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» VIEW ALL POSTS Nov 14 2007   12:55PM GMT

Overheard: Your big brother’s name is Hancock



Posted by: Margaret Rouse
AT&T, Privacy, Technology, Hancock
ryan-singel.jpg “AT&T is currently defending itself in federal court from allegations that it installed, on behalf of the National Security Agency, secret internet spying rooms in its domestic internet switching facilities.”

Ryan Singel, AT&T Invents Programming Language for Mass Surveillance 

Ryan says:

Programs written in Hancock work by analyzing data as it flows into a data warehouse. That differentiates the language from traditional data-mining applications which tend to look for patterns in static databases.  A 2004 paper published in ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems shows how Hancock code can sift calling card records, long distance calls, IP addresses and internet traffic dumps, and even track the physical movements of mobile phone customers as their signal moves from cell site to cell site. 

Anyone read Tryrannosaur Canyon by Doublas Preston? This is the second day I’ve had to say truth is stranger than fiction.

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Yimster  |   Nov 14 2007   6:49PM GMT

Privacy is important but after 9/11 wouldn’t you give up some of your privacy right for protection? AT&T developed a program to protect their business and the government is using that information to track down “bad people”, what is so wrong with that, unless you are guilty of something. I understand there needs to be legal procedures in getting these type of information and if the NSA did not follow the rule than same on them. But you know what, the biggest rule breaker is the law enforcement type. Couple of days ago, I saw a police car making a U turn illegally and was wondering if I did it I would get a ticket. Botton line, freedom has a price and sometime giving up our privacy can be a cost.


 

Oldtoad  |   Nov 14 2007   11:43PM GMT

If you give up your privacy you are not free. Who is the judge on what is right and wrong? The goverment? They can’t even balance their books and control violent crime so we give them the right to be above the law? No on all accounts.


 

Zanshin8777  |   Nov 20 2007   2:15PM GMT

Abolutely not. I find the most common abusers are the ones in power and I do not trust that the collective “government” has my best interests at heart. Their motivation is power and our checks & balances system is severely compromised unless the Legislative branch is monitoring the Executive branch and the Juditiary does their job, bi-partisianly, and enforces the law. No, never give up liberty.


 
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