(WORLD NEWS) THE INTERNET SPY PROBLEM

What are the biggest fears about the spying scandal?

On KPFA Radio, NPR, KCBS and numerous other media, today, a number of speakers commented about actual abuses of spying resources that they had witnessed.

In recent polls, attempts have been made to articulate the biggest fears of the public.

As of today, the public supports using spying to stop mass destruction bad guys but they are most concerned about the abuse of the resources for the following:

• Spying on reporters for the purpose of damaging those reporters who write anything controversial.
• The use of spy databases by aides and senior staff, who are non-military, to target lovers, ex’s and business competitors.
• The use of spy databases by White House staff to take down or acquire advance notice of opposite-party tactics.
• The use of spy databases to take down competitors to companies owned by campaign backers.
• The use of spy databases by the Senators of one party to spy on the Senators, or their staff, from the opposing party in order to gain tactical advantage.
• The damage to the U.S. image overseas.
• The complete lack of privacy of any electronic device (ie: “if it has a plug, it has a bug”)
• The exposure of the fact that Silicon Valley companies spy on you to make profit off of your personal information.

Let’s discuss.

KL-

—————————————————

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/shinal/2014/01/18/nsa-obama-throws-tech-companies-under-the-bus/4638947/

The President made a national announcement about spying. In it he reminded everyone that it is companies in the private sector — not the government — that collects its electronic information in the first place.

His quote:

“Corporations of all shapes and sizes track what you buy, store and analyze our data, and use it for commercial purposes,” the president said. “That’s how those targeted ads pop up on your computer and your smartphone periodically.”

“There is a reason why BlackBerrys and iPhones aren’t allowed in the White House situation room,” Obama said, adding a reminder the U.S. government doesn’t consider them safe from snooping by foreign governments.

Consumer beware. Cut off your social media accounts and don’t buy networked connected hardware if you want to avoid getting snooped on.

Amy – NY Times
———————————————