We begin therefore where they are determined not to end, with the question whether any form of democratic self-government, anywhere, is consistent with the kind of massive, pervasive, surveillance into which the Unites States government has led not only us but the world.
This should not actually be a complicated inquiry.
These capabilities present an existential threat to our democratic freedoms. The potential damage that terrorist could do to us pales into insignificance.
In essence, GCHQ & NSA have constructed a giant totalitarian state, with almost unlimited power. The only reassurance that it's not to be used against us is "trust us". However much we might trust them for now, that's simply not a good enough guarantee. Like Checkov's gun, the very existence of this weapon means that it almost certainly will be fired, eventually.
The only way for us to ensure our safety is to make sure that the weapon is put beyond use, ASAP.
Perhaps it's because the people of Oman deserve to know what secret endeavors their government allows in their name.
Perhaps it's because the people of the UK deserve to know what secret endeavors their government embarks on in their name.
Perhaps it's to prove a point about the free press after an episode of shameful intimidation by government.
Or perhaps it's, as El Reg wrote, because the UK government claims their adversaries, both nation-state and non-state actors, already have access to these documents and it's only 'we the people' who have been left out.
Lewis Page, the editor, noted in the comments section:
"The [UK] government have made it plain that in their view not only foreign powers (ie probably Russia and others) have full access to the Snowden leaks, but quite possibly 'non state actors' also. In other words the only people who don't know this are the general public.
"And given the colossal automated penetration that NSA/GCHQ are achieving worldwide without anybody being much the wiser, it seemed to us that the public should know - as there's no further intelligence hit for UK.gov to take, by its own analysis."
Ugh, the 'NSA sysadmin'. Snowden himself addressed this point that this is a framing move on the part of the US government to downplay his knowledge of what the NSA was really up to. He actually did participate in spying activities! Such a shame that this framing even persists in news of his leaks. (Yes I am aware of The Register's reputation.)
All of the UK national papers have had their hands on this for some time. The papers have obeyed the government into not publishing the story. The Register deemed that there is no harm that can be done to the state. As diodesign repeats in another comment (edited):
"The [UK] government have made it plain that in their view not only foreign powers (ie probably Russia and others) have full access to the Snowden leaks, but quite possibly 'non state actors' also. ..it seemed to us that the public should know - as there's no further intelligence hit for UK.gov to take, by its own analysis."
Because right now people have access to GPG and can send information reasonably securely to journalists.
But don't worry, a 3 [or 4] letter agency near you is working real hard on that.
The stuff about terrorists can wait as that's not quite as important as stopping you knowing about what the agency is up to. The supposed masters in charge of limiting them - government ministers - are willfully compliant in the manipulation and deceit.
[edit:spelling; I wish english was my first language.]
based on the first paragraph, I wonder how many outages because of damaged undersea cables are caused by intelligence agencies botching their cable taps?
Even a "correct" tap installation might cause an outage due to the particulars of optical-fiber manipulation. There have been occasional reports of cable breaks in the news - I've noticed since about the 1990s. They have been attributed, usually to ship anchors, or other accidental occurrences. (Supposedly also, sharks bite cables, attracted by current, but this may apply more to wire than fiber)
[+] [-] chippy|11 years ago|reply
Here is the link to the article on one page "printer friendly" http://www.theregister.co.uk/Print/2014/06/03/revealed_beyon...
[+] [-] Create|11 years ago|reply
This should not actually be a complicated inquiry.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/27/-sp-privac...
[+] [-] willvarfar|11 years ago|reply
The specific details don't seem to particularly add anything to the story, and the story would stand if describing things abstractly.
They just want clicks, I guess.
[+] [-] alextingle|11 years ago|reply
In essence, GCHQ & NSA have constructed a giant totalitarian state, with almost unlimited power. The only reassurance that it's not to be used against us is "trust us". However much we might trust them for now, that's simply not a good enough guarantee. Like Checkov's gun, the very existence of this weapon means that it almost certainly will be fired, eventually.
The only way for us to ensure our safety is to make sure that the weapon is put beyond use, ASAP.
[+] [-] kyboren|11 years ago|reply
Perhaps it's because the people of the UK deserve to know what secret endeavors their government embarks on in their name.
Perhaps it's to prove a point about the free press after an episode of shameful intimidation by government.
Or perhaps it's, as El Reg wrote, because the UK government claims their adversaries, both nation-state and non-state actors, already have access to these documents and it's only 'we the people' who have been left out.
[+] [-] diodesign|11 years ago|reply
Lewis Page, the editor, noted in the comments section:
"The [UK] government have made it plain that in their view not only foreign powers (ie probably Russia and others) have full access to the Snowden leaks, but quite possibly 'non state actors' also. In other words the only people who don't know this are the general public.
"And given the colossal automated penetration that NSA/GCHQ are achieving worldwide without anybody being much the wiser, it seemed to us that the public should know - as there's no further intelligence hit for UK.gov to take, by its own analysis."
[+] [-] 7952|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|11 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] DCKing|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BgSpnnrs|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chippy|11 years ago|reply
"The [UK] government have made it plain that in their view not only foreign powers (ie probably Russia and others) have full access to the Snowden leaks, but quite possibly 'non state actors' also. ..it seemed to us that the public should know - as there's no further intelligence hit for UK.gov to take, by its own analysis."
[+] [-] mortov|11 years ago|reply
But don't worry, a 3 [or 4] letter agency near you is working real hard on that.
The stuff about terrorists can wait as that's not quite as important as stopping you knowing about what the agency is up to. The supposed masters in charge of limiting them - government ministers - are willfully compliant in the manipulation and deceit.
[edit:spelling; I wish english was my first language.]
[+] [-] ttctciyf|11 years ago|reply
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Campbell_%28journalist%2...
That's how :)
[+] [-] csandreasen|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] falconfunction|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Shivetya|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ds9|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sirdogealot|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mnw21cam|11 years ago|reply
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@23.6743589,58.1219272,1185m/d...