more on Secret U.S. Program Tracks Global Bank Transfers

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tom Goltz <tgoltz () QuietSoftware com>
Date: June 23, 2006 2:18:19 PM EDT
To: h_bray () globe com
Cc: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Secret U.S. Program Tracks Global Bank  
Transfers

At 11:37 AM 6/23/2006, Hiawatha Bray wrote:
> Once again, a secret intelligence program during wartime has been
> exposed.
>
> Do these guys actually want us to win?

I think they do want us to win, but they also want us to still be a  
free and open society.

The issue of the SWIFT transaction database goes straight to the core  
of the privacy debate.  Should the government have the right to  
obtain our most personal information at will?  If it does, who is  
going to provide the oversight of the government to ensure that  
access is not mis-used or abused?

The Times article raised some very important issues.  It mentions  
that the searchable database of the SWIFT transactions is under the  
control of the government, and resides on government computers.  As  
far as I can tell, there are NO effective controls to prevent mis-use  
of the database for investigations or even witch-hunts beyond the  
scope of investigating or preventing terrorism.  SWIFT's claim that  
they monitor all searches and queries of the database is utter  
nonsense...unless the computer that holds the database is physically  
guarded 24x7 by their people, and SWIFT's people have the only  
administrator privileges on the equipment housing the database, I can  
think of at least a dozen different ways that the government could  
make improper use of the database and SWIFT WOULD NEVER KNOW.

ANY free and open society operates at a significant disadvantage when  
facing an opponent that operates clandestinely.  I do not believe  
that we need to or should sacrifice freedom and openness to fight  
terrorism.  I am MUCH more afraid of secret Star Chamber "justice" by  
my own government than I am of being harmed  by terrorists.




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