Far as the argument, it's weak because none of the claims they made last time came true. If anything, the U.S. is spying on and locking up so many Americans they might need to cut back so they can stop putting dangerous people back on the street. Prosecution is so one-sided in FBI's favor that plea bargain rate is 97%. Prisons are simply too full. Plus, they got a conviction almost every time they ran into encryption per their own documents. They're not "going dark" or at any disadvantage. That's straight up lies given their publicly released documents.
Far as backdoors, Bruce Schneier shows how retarded Comey and Obama's side is with a simple counter:
" But the problem isn't that most encrypted communications platforms are securely encrypted, or even that some are -- the problem is that there exists at least one securely encrypted communications platform on the planet that ISIL can use.
Imagine that Comey got what he wanted. Imagine that iMessage and Facebook and Skype and everything else US-made had his backdoor. The ISIL operative would tell his potential recruit to use something else, something secure and non-US-made. Maybe an encryption program from Finland, or Switzerland, or Brazil. Maybe Mujahedeen Secrets. Maybe anything. "
My own counter is that even North Korea can't lock down all covert communications in their country. Dissidents routinely get us info with cheap cellphones using towers planted on other side of border. China, which is more U.S. lawmakers' style, has all kinds of covert communications, organized crime, and so on. So, Bruce's argument is supported by the evidence, other surveillance states show surveillance won't protect us at all, and U.S. government's behavior up to this point indicate it's a power grab for a tool of control rather than protection. They abuse everything else routinely.
>>Far as the argument, it's weak because none of the claims they made last time came true. If anything, the U.S. is spying on and locking up so many Americans they might need to cut back so they can stop putting dangerous people back on the street.
Most of the increase in prison occupancy is due to drug offenses and this has been dropping since 2008ish; not due to 'spying'
>>Prosecution is so one-sided in FBI's favor that plea bargain rate is 97%.
This is 97% of the 92% of cases that are not dismissed or dropped by the prosecution after charges are filed. So only about 89% of the cases brought by federal prosecutors are resolved by a plea bargain. This also covers cases that are not brought or investigated by the FBI at all. The vast majority of criminal cases brought by prosecutors are slam-dunks(after all, they wouldn't charge someone otherwise). You don't need to believe the FBI in any case. Most criminal cases around the world are resolved very quickly and with a high conviction rate for the prosecution.
Yes, they're not caused by spying. Im pointing out that the Feds have plenty tools as aimed at Americans with tons of convictions while publicly talk like they're powerless and going dark. They have more than enough power.
Re conviction rates
Im basing those claims off things like this piece:
I made a similar argument with Lavabit. Further analysis showed the situation was quite different from what warrantee search implied:
Physical: You usually received notice and could physically spot insertions of fake evidence or mishandling. Only one target.
Digital: They capabilities they ask for can be used invisibly on as many targets as they like. They allow undetectable insertion of forged evidence as well in many cases.
The FBI showed their true colors in Lavabit case where they acknowledged that getting the key or attaching their box could compromise ALL accounts. The FBI's argument? Do it then lie to customers that it didnt happen and their emails are still private. FBI said no harm to business that way. Judge agreed, too.
This is not isolated case. They abuse the other authorities similarly with coercion of affected parties and deception of US public. So, I fight backdoors or similar capabilities to avoid enabling tyrants.
A read-only, auditable search a 3rd party can restrict to just warranted targets woukd be a totally different discussion. They've usually rejected tgat stuff in favor of overreach and subversion. That's telling.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Infocalyp...
Far as the argument, it's weak because none of the claims they made last time came true. If anything, the U.S. is spying on and locking up so many Americans they might need to cut back so they can stop putting dangerous people back on the street. Prosecution is so one-sided in FBI's favor that plea bargain rate is 97%. Prisons are simply too full. Plus, they got a conviction almost every time they ran into encryption per their own documents. They're not "going dark" or at any disadvantage. That's straight up lies given their publicly released documents.
Far as backdoors, Bruce Schneier shows how retarded Comey and Obama's side is with a simple counter:
https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2015/07/back_doors_wo...
" But the problem isn't that most encrypted communications platforms are securely encrypted, or even that some are -- the problem is that there exists at least one securely encrypted communications platform on the planet that ISIL can use.
Imagine that Comey got what he wanted. Imagine that iMessage and Facebook and Skype and everything else US-made had his backdoor. The ISIL operative would tell his potential recruit to use something else, something secure and non-US-made. Maybe an encryption program from Finland, or Switzerland, or Brazil. Maybe Mujahedeen Secrets. Maybe anything. "
My own counter is that even North Korea can't lock down all covert communications in their country. Dissidents routinely get us info with cheap cellphones using towers planted on other side of border. China, which is more U.S. lawmakers' style, has all kinds of covert communications, organized crime, and so on. So, Bruce's argument is supported by the evidence, other surveillance states show surveillance won't protect us at all, and U.S. government's behavior up to this point indicate it's a power grab for a tool of control rather than protection. They abuse everything else routinely.