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Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by tricolon on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @08:07PM (#23708372)
Wouldn't the counterargument be "but only the government would have access, and we can trust the government"?
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by dilap on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @08:49PM (#23708712)
Even if you grant "only the government has access," I think you still shouldn't be complacent, because what the government considers acceptable can change, and may not agree with what you think is acceptable.

E.g., maybe a govt comes into power that is strongly anti-gay, and punishes you for being pro-gay rights.

Or the opposite.

In general the idea that the government will always be reasonable and should have unlimited surveillance powers is unsound and unappealing.

Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by tintor on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @08:56PM (#23708771)
Or the current situation in Hong Kong with China, for example.
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by dragonwriter on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @10:00PM (#23709184)
The counter-counter-argument is the whole history of both individual (against policy) and official (by policy) abuse of surveillance in the history of government. Every expansion of monitoring must weigh the specific expected benefits against the very real cost of expanding both of those abuse surfaces.
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by lowwave on Thursday July 02, 2020 @03:55AM (#23710954)
Just check out the Stasi in Germany. Power corrupts absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by cortic on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @08:43PM (#23708663)
Sure. But Kevin, who works in a government department, is someone.
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by kortilla on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @08:10PM (#23708398)
No, because such a scheme is not really possible. It’s only a matter of time before the governments secret key gets leaked.
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by mr_toad on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @09:22PM (#23708949)
I work for the government.

Mind if I riffle through your contacts? Is it ok to DM any cute people I find?

Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by cja on Thursday July 02, 2020 @04:21AM (#23711089)
Why do cute people need special protection?
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by pdonis on Thursday July 02, 2020 @12:58AM (#23710139)
Only if you were willing to accept the "we can trust the government" part.
Re:Oppose the Earn IT Act by suchire on Thursday July 02, 2020 @01:49AM (#23710390)
Which government?