Re:The NSA Reportedly Has Total Access To The Apple iPhone
by deelowe on Tuesday December 31, 2013 @12:37AM
(#6989203)
The MLK example is a great one. Also, it's still not 100% clear what happened with Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe or the Kennedys. I read recently that there was evidence of the NSA having dirt on a governor, which was used to blackmail him (can't recall the specific instance unfortunately). And of course, I'm sure everyone knows about what happened with the IRS and certain non profits last year, while not directly tied to the NSA gives an example of why this stuff matters.
So yea, it's not to protect people like us. It's to protect the MLKs, the politicians, the accountants, the journalist, the news anchor, etc... Everyone either has a skeleton in their closet or cares about someone who does. If one is so inclined, having this information can be extremely valuable when trying to prevent a "free society" from becoming a little too free.
Re:The NSA Reportedly Has Total Access To The Apple iPhone
by spoiledtechie on Tuesday December 31, 2013 @12:19AM
(#6989135)
Fuck Ya. Here Here. Sorry for the expletive, but you sure did nail it.
Did you know the FBI put MLK under surveillance at the orders of Bobby Kennedy (then-Attorney General)? They didn't find evidence of crimes, so they threatened to publicize his extramarital affair if he didn't give up his civil rights work.
It's about preventing unchecked government power over those who aren't criminals who are working against the status quo.
OF COURSE you don't care if the NSA reads your email. You don't change anything, and consequently don't matter.
We as a society care if the NSA reads the private emails of the next important up-and-coming political party leader who will break us out of the corporate-owned two-party system. THAT'S the person we're trying to protect, not boring uninspired people who "have nothing to hide".