{"id":597,"date":"2013-05-17T14:55:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-17T18:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gutcheckamerica.com\/?p=597"},"modified":"2013-05-17T14:55:00","modified_gmt":"2013-05-17T18:55:00","slug":"experts-fbi-dream-of-wiretap-ready-interent-flawed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gutcheckamerica.com\/?p=597","title":{"rendered":"Experts: FBI Dream of Wiretap Ready Interent Flawed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A government proposal to turn the entire Internet–its apps, services and software–into one giant, easy-to-access wiretap port drew withering fire in a report released today<\/span><\/a> <\/span>from a renowned group of computer and security experts.<\/p>\n

The report says:<\/p>\n

We believe that on balance mandating that endpoint software vendors build [wiretap ready] intercept functionality into their products will be much more costly to personal, economic and governmental security overall than the risks associated with not being able to wiretap all communications.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The government move comes amid claims that it can’t catch the bad guys because they can all too easily disappear into the great maw of today’s digital communications that can’t be wiretapped.\u00a0 The FBI calls this “going dark” and they don’t like it, and for good reason, as you can imagine.\u00a0 Law and order guys–the good guys<\/em>–need to listen in on the deviant plans being made that threaten the U.S.\u00a0 When they are hampered from doing so, however, they can go too far in demanding the access they need to do their jobs, i.e.–let’s just make sure everyone can be wiretapped at the flip of a switch and we’ll all be happy.<\/p>\n

Not so much.\u00a0 The FBI already has this ability for telephone conversations, it’s called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act<\/a> or CALEA.\u00a0 CALEA allows the FBI to easily plug into today’s digital phone networks and listen in, given that they first get a court approved warrant.<\/p>\n

Now the FBI is pressing for greater access to, well, everything.<\/p>\n

“This could encompass a wide range of products and services, from instant messaging and chat to Skype to Google Hangouts to Xbox Live. It could include services offered through a variety of means, from stand-alone services to features built into web browser software and social networking sites,” says the report issued today.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Seriously Flawed Request<\/strong>
\nThe Center for Democracy & Technology<\/a>, which helped put this report together, says there are three key takeaway points<\/span><\/a><\/span> about the FBI propose:<\/p>\n