Re: Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program

[Mark Monroe <markm196 () NETSCAPE NET>]

Much like users who are local admins on their machines :)

once they have it, they don't want to relinquish it.

Mark

On 6/7/2013 9:19 AM, Manjak, Martin wrote:
> "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
> -Lord Acton
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton%2C_1st_Baron_Acton
>
> And once you have it, no one wants to relinquish it.
>
> -Marty Manjak, US citizen
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Flynn, 
> Gary - flynngn
> Sent: Friday, June 07, 2013 9:45 AM
> To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Reactions to reported NSA PRISM program
>
> <personal opinion>
>
> I think if anyone expects the government to foil terrorism plots, such
> monitoring is necessary. There is certainly a substantial risk of abuse
> and scope creep but I don't see any realistic option. If terrorists are
> allowed to leverage today's technology unimpeded, there will be larger and
> more coordinated attacks. When something happens, people will ask "why
> didn't you know about that?".
>
> Our society is extremely vulnerable. If you cannot fix the
> vulnerabilities, you have to monitor and detect. Our freedom is our
> vulnerability so I don't think anyone wants to "fix" that. Some privacy
> may have to be sacrificed to preserve freedom.
>
> Scope creep is probably the primary threat. "We must monitor threats to
> the American way of life and our economy. We will add the following to the
> definition of terrorist - tobacco smugglers, DMCA violators, gun
> collectors, spam senders, and people who don't curb their dogs".
>
> There is a large gray area in the middle where I'm sure there will be
> constant disagreement and worries about who will watch the watchers.
>
> I don't like it. But I think it is necessary.
>
> </personal opinion>
>
>
>
> On 6/7/13 9:02 AM, "Kevin Halgren" <kevin.halgren () WASHBURN EDU> wrote:
>
> > For those of you already using Google or Microsoft cloud e-mail
> > solutions, I'll be curious to hear the reactions on your campuses to
> > this news.
> >
> > I believe the tech companies are telling the truth when they say they
> > don't provide direct backdoor access into their systems and that the
> > PRISM presentation may overstate the cooperation and capabilities of the
> > system, however that doesn't preclude the government from abusing
> > existing systems and capabilities e.g. those under CALEA lawful
> > intercept capabilities.
> >
> > Kevin
> >
> > --
> > Kevin Halgren
> > Assistant Director - Systems and Network Services
> > Washburn University
> > (785) 670-2341
> > kevin.halgren () washburn edu