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Just suppose
Dec. 24th, 2005 08:30 amParticipate, if you will, in a thought experiment with me.
We know that China makes a fair amount of the consumer electronics, including cell phones. Let us suppose, for the sake of argument and suspending real world concerns like detection and technological capabilities, that China had secreted in each of those cell phones a tracking and wiretapping device that allowed them to monitor calls placed and calls received, then activate the tap when they wanted content.
This could only be done with a sister device installed atop a cell tower. Of course, China has only installed the device on their own towers. But they are secretly pressuring their allies to install the devices on their towers, too.
Would you be concerned that China was doing this to their own citizens without their knowledge? Are you simply shaking your head at another example of the behavior of a communist dictatorship?
This hasn't happened in China, of course, I made this all up. The really frightening thing is that the equivalent of all of this is happening right here in the US under our noses. With as little regard to our rights under the Constitution, the Bush administration has ignored the need to go to court and get a warrant, a very easy process that can be done after the fact. They have subjected thousands of US citizens to illegal wiretaps and email searches. This morning's NYT reports that the NSA is trying to covertly get telecommunications companies to increase the amount of international traffic going through American switches so they can illegally eavesdrop on foreigners as well.
Nixon was impeached for bugging one office.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
We know that China makes a fair amount of the consumer electronics, including cell phones. Let us suppose, for the sake of argument and suspending real world concerns like detection and technological capabilities, that China had secreted in each of those cell phones a tracking and wiretapping device that allowed them to monitor calls placed and calls received, then activate the tap when they wanted content.
This could only be done with a sister device installed atop a cell tower. Of course, China has only installed the device on their own towers. But they are secretly pressuring their allies to install the devices on their towers, too.
Would you be concerned that China was doing this to their own citizens without their knowledge? Are you simply shaking your head at another example of the behavior of a communist dictatorship?
This hasn't happened in China, of course, I made this all up. The really frightening thing is that the equivalent of all of this is happening right here in the US under our noses. With as little regard to our rights under the Constitution, the Bush administration has ignored the need to go to court and get a warrant, a very easy process that can be done after the fact. They have subjected thousands of US citizens to illegal wiretaps and email searches. This morning's NYT reports that the NSA is trying to covertly get telecommunications companies to increase the amount of international traffic going through American switches so they can illegally eavesdrop on foreigners as well.
Nixon was impeached for bugging one office.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
