this gives the NSA access: Edward Snowden (7 Mar 2014), “Statement to the European Parliament,” European Parliament, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201403/20140307ATT80674/20140307ATT80674EN.pdf.
the NSA spies on the Turkish government: Andy Müller-Maguhn et al. (31 Aug 2014), “A two-faced friendship: Turkey is ‘partner and target’ for the NSA,” Der Spiegel, http://www.spiegel.de/international/documents-show-nsa-and-gchq-spied-on-partner-turkey-a-989011.html. Laura Poitras et al. (31 Aug 2014), “How the NSA helped Turkey kill Kurdish rebels,” Intercept, https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/08/31/nsaturkeyspiegel.
NSA spies on the government of . . . Germany: David E. Sanger (1 May 2014), “U.S. and Germany fail to reach a deal on spying,” New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/02/world/europe/us-and-germany-fail-to-reach-a-deal-on-spying.html. Mark Landler (2 May 2014), “Merkel signals that tension persists over U.S. spying,” New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/03/world/europe/merkel-says-gaps-with-us-over-surveillance-remain.html. Andy Müller-Maguhn et al. (14 Sep 2014), “Treasure map: The NSA breach of Telekom and other German firms,” Der Spiegel, http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/snowden-documents-indicate-nsa-has-breached-deutsche-telekom-a-991503.html.
we spy on all of our partners: Many people believe that the US and the UK spy on each other’s citizens as a way of getting around their own domestic laws. It’s legal as long as they can convince themselves that it’s “inadvertent.”
when the NSA touts its: Justin Elliott and Theodoric Meyer (23 Oct 2013), “Claim on ‘attacks thwarted’ by NSA spreads despite lack of evidence,” Pro Publica, http://www.propublica.org/article/claim-on-attacks-thwarted-by-nsa-spreads-despite-lack-of-evidence.
The NSA gives Israel’s: Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Ewen MacAskill (11 Sep 2013), “NSA shares raw intelligence including Americans’ data with Israel,” Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/11/nsa-americans-personal-data-israel-documents.
Even historical enemies: Political considerations still matter. China has a serious problem with Uighur terrorists, and would certainly welcome US help in dealing with the threat. The US won’t help, of course, because continuing Uighur terrorism will help weaken China. Chien-peng Chung (2002), “China’s ‘war on terror’: September 11 and Uighur separatism,” Foreign Affairs, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/58030/chien-peng-chung/chinas-war-on-terror-september-11-and-uighur-separatism. Elizabeth van Wie Davis (Jan 2008), “Uyghur Muslim ethnic separatism in Xinjiang, China,” Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, http://www.apcss.org/college/publications/uyghur-muslim-ethnic-separatism-in-xinjiang-china.
After 9/11, Russia rebranded: John Laughland (8 Sep 2004), “The Chechens’ American friends,” Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/sep/08/usa.russia. Simon Shuster (19 Sep 2011), “How the war on terrorism did Russia a favor,” Time, http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2093529,00.html. James Gordon Meek (19 Feb 2014), “The secret battles between US forces and Chechen terrorists,” ABC News, http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/secret-battles-us-forces-chechen-terrorists/story?id=22580688.
In 2011, Russia warned the US: Tom Winter (25 Mar 2014), “Russia warned U.S. about Tsarnaev, but spelling issue let him escape,” NBC News, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/boston-bombing-anniversary/russia-warned-u-s-about-tsarnaev-spelling-issue-let-him-n60836.
We returned the favor: Laura Smith-Spart and Nick Paton Walsh (4 Feb 2014), “United States reveals ‘specific’ threats to Olympic Games,” CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/04/world/europe/russia-sochi-winter-olympics.
6: CONSOLIDATION OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL
more an alliance of interests: Communications professor Robert M. McChesney called the symbiotic relationship between big data and big government “a marriage made in heaven, with dire implications for liberty and democracy.” Robert M. McChesney (2013), Digital Disconnect: How Capitalism Is Turning the Internet against Democracy, New Press, p. 21, http://books.google.com/books/?id=j_7EkTI8kVQC.
the NSA gets direct access: We knew this even before Edward Snowden, from the previous NSA whistleblower Mark Klein. Mark Klein (8 Jun 2006), “Declaration of Mark Klein,” Hepting, et al., v. AT&T, et al., United States District Court, Northern District of California (No. C-06-0672-VRW), https://www.eff.org/files/filenode/att/Mark%20Klein%20Unredacted%20Decl-Including%20Exhibits.pdf. Ellen Nakashima (7 Nov 2007), “A story of surveillance,” Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110700006.html.
GCHQ pays telcos: James Ball, Luke Harding, and Juliette Garside (2 Aug 2013), “BT and Vodafone among telecoms companies passing details to GCHQ,” Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/02/telecoms-bt-vodafone-cables-gchq.
Vodafone gives: Vodafone (2014), “Law enforcement disclosure report,” http://www.vodafone.com/content/sustainabilityreport/2014/index/operating_responsibly/privacy_and_security/law_enforcement.html. Peter Svensson (9 Jun 2014), “Vodafone report sparks global surveillance debate,” Associated Press, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/cellphone-operator-wades-surveillance-debate. Juliette Garside (5 Jun 2014), “Vodafone reveals existence of secret wires that allow state surveillance,” Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/06/vodafone-reveals-secret-wires-allowing-state-surveillance.
French government eavesdrops: Jacques Follorou and Glenn Greenwald (25 Oct 2013), “France in the NSA’s crosshair: Wanadoo and Alcatel targeted,” Le Monde, http://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2013/10/21/france-in-the-nsa-s-crosshair-wanadoo-and-alcatel-targeted_3499739_651865.html. Jacques Follorou (21 Mar 2014), “Espionnage: Comment Orange et les services secrets coopèrent,” Le Monde, http://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2014/03/20/dgse-orange-des-liaisons-incestueuses_4386264_3210.html.
About a dozen countries: British Broadcasting Corporation (8 Apr 2014), “Top EU court rejects EU-wide data retention law,” BBC News, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26935096.
Internet cafes in Iran: Iran Media Program (8 Apr 2013), “Digital media: FATA polices Internet cafés with 20 new regulations,” Annenberg School for Communication, http://www.iranmediaresearch.org/en/blog/218/13/04/08/1322.
Vietnam: Reporters Without Borders (2013), “Vietnam,” in Enemies of the Internet, http://surveillance.rsf.org/en/vietnam.
India: Rama Lakshmi (1 Aug 2011), “India’s new Internet rules criticized,” Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/indias-new-internet-rules-criticized/2011/07/27/gIQA1zS2mI_story.html.
US government bought data: Chris Jay Hoofnagle (1 Aug 2003), “Big Brother’s little helpers: How Choicepoint and other commercial data brokers collect, process, and package your data for law enforcement,” North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulations 29, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=582302. Jon D. Michaels (6 Oct 2008), “All the president’s spies: Private-public intelligence partnerships in the war on terror,” California Law Review 96, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1279867.
data from Torch Concepts: Matthew L. Wald (21 Feb 2004), “U.S. calls release of JetBlue data improper,” New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/21/business/21blue.html.
a database of Mexican voters: CR Staff (1 May 2003), “U.S. government purchase data on Mexico’s 65 million registered voters,” Information Clearinghouse, http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3186.htm.
US law requires financial institutions: US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (11 May 2014), “Bank Secrecy Act requirements: A quick reference guide for money services business,” http://www.fincen.gov/financial_institutions/msb/materials/en/bank_reference.html.
States like Illinois: Kenneth Lowe (29 Jun 2008), “Illinois made $64.3 million selling driver’s license information,” Herald-Review, http://herald-review.com/business/local/illinois-made-million-selling-driver-s-license-information/article_43c51a15-c885-575e-ac5d-0c01cc9acb6b.html.
&n
bsp; Ohio: Joe Guillen (11 Jul 2010), “Ohio collects millions selling driving records with your personal information,” Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/07/ohio_collects_millions_selling.html.
Texas: Tim Cushing (13 Feb 2013), “Texas DMV sells personal information to hundreds of companies; Drivers not allowed to opt-out,” Tech Dirt, http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130212/21285321958/texas-dmv-sells-personal-information-to-hundreds-companies-drivers-not-allowed-to-opt-out.shtml.
Florida: Jeff Weinsier (12 Oct 2011), “Florida makes $63M selling drivers’ info,” Local 10, http://www.local10.com/news/Florida-Makes-63M-Selling-Drivers-Info/3078462.
voter registration data: Kim Zetter (11 Dec 2003), “For sale: The American voter,” Wired, http://archive.wired.com/politics/security/news/2003/12/61543.
The UK government proposed: Rowena Maxon (18 Apr 2014), “HMRC to sell taxpayers’ financial data,” Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/18/hmrc-to-sell-taxpayers-data.
UK National Health Service: Randeep Ramesh (19 Jan 2014), “NHS patient data to be made available for sale to drug and insurance firms,” Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/19/nhs-patient-data-available-companies-buy.
There’s a feedback loop: This has been called “data laundering.” Chris Jay Hoofnagle (2 Sep 2014), “The Potemkinism of privacy pragmatism,” Slate, http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2014/09/data_use_regulation_the_libertarian_push_behind_a_new_take_on_privacy.single.html.
you can configure your browser: Geoff Duncan (9 Jun 2012), “Why Do Not Track may not protect anybody’s privacy,” Digital Trends, http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/why-do-not-track-may-not-protect-anybodys-privacy.
It’s a bit different in Europe: European Parliament and Council of Europe (24 Oct 1995), “Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data,” http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31995L0046:en:HTML. Council of Europe (Apr 2014), “Handbook on European data protection law,” http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Handbook_data_protection_ENG.pdf.
data can flow from the EU: Zack Whittaker (25 Apr 2011), “Safe harbor: Why EU data needs ‘protecting’ from US law,” ZDNet, http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/safe-harbor-why-eu-data-needs-protecting-from-us-law/8801.
public-private surveillance partnership: Jay Stanley (Aug 2004), “The surveillance-industrial complex,” American Civil Liberties Union, https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/FilesPDFs/surveillance_report.pdf.
1,931 different corporations: Dana Priest and William M. Arkin (19 Jul 2010), “A hidden world, growing beyond control,” Washington Post, http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/articles/a-hidden-world-growing-beyond-control.
70% of the US intelligence budget: Robert O’Harrow Jr., Dana Priest, and Marjorie Censer (10 Jun 2013), “NSA leaks put focus on intelligence apparatus’s reliance on outside contractors,” Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/nsa-leaks-put-focus-on-intelligence-apparatuss-reliance-on-outside-contractors/2013/06/10/e940c4ba-d20e-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html.
Keith Alexander started: It seems unlikely that he would have had the spare time necessary to invent things directly applicable to his job. Shane Harris (29 Jun 2014), “The NSA’s cyber-king goes corporate,” Foreign Policy, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/07/29/the_crypto_king_of_the_NSA_goes_corporate_keith_alexander_patents. Conor Friedersdorf (31 Jul 2014), “Keith Alexander’s unethical get-rich-quick plan,” Atlantic, http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/07/keith-alexanders-unethical-get-rich-quick-plan/375367.
He’s hired the NSA’s: Spencer Ackerman (17 Oct 2014), “Senior NSA official moonlighting for private security firm,” Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/17/senior-nsa-official-moonlighting-private-cybersecurity-firm.
FinFisher: Elaman-Gamma Group (2011), “German security solutions,” Wikileaks, https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/810435/313-elaman-product-list-finfisher.pdf.
the FinFisher toolkit: Morgan Marquis-Boire and Bill Marczak (29 Aug 2012), “The smartphone who loved me: FinFisher goes mobile?” Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, http://citizenlab.org/2012/08/the-smartphone-who-loved-me-finfisher-goes-mobile. Nicole Perlroth (30 Aug 2012), “Software meant to fight crime is used to spy on dissidents,” New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/technology/finspy-software-is-tracking-political-dissidents.html.
The Moroccan government: Bill Marczak et al. (17 Feb 2014), “Mapping Hacking Team’s ‘untraceable’ spyware,” Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, Univers-ity of Toronto, https://citizenlab.org/2014/02/mapping-hacking-teams-untraceable-spyware.
arrested dissidents in Bahrain: Vernon Silver and Ben Elgin (22 Aug 2011), “Torture in Bahrain becomes routine with help from Nokia Siemens,” Bloomberg News, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-22/torture-in-bahrain-becomes-routine-with-help-from-nokia-siemens-networking.html.
The conference ISS World: Ms. Smith (10 Nov 2011), “Secret snoop conference for gov’t spying: Go stealth, hit a hundred thousand targets,” Network World, http://www.networkworld.com/article/2221080/microsoft-subnet/secret-snoop-conference-for-gov-t-spying---go-stealth--hit-a-hundred-thousand-targe.html. Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, Julia Angwin, and Steve Stecklow (19 Nov 2011), “Document trove exposes surveillance methods,” Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970203611404577044192607407780. Vernon Silver (21 Dec 2011), “Spies fail to escape spyware in $5 billion bazaar for cyber arms,” Bloomberg News, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-22/spies-fail-to-escape-spyware-in-5-billion-bazaar-for-cyber-arms.html.
The 2014 brochure: ISS World Training (3–4 Mar 2014), “ISS World Middle East,” J. W. Marriott, Dubai, UAE, http://www.issworldtraining.com/iss_mea/Brochure01.pdf.
Many countries send representatives: Privacy International has a list of who attended between 2006 and 2009. Privacy International (2012), “Surveillance Who’s Who,” https://www.privacyinternational.org/sww.
There are similar conferences: Uwe Buse and Marcel Rosenbach (8 Dec 2011), “The transparent state enemy: Western surveillance technology in the hands of despots,” Der Spiegel, http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-transparent-state-enemy-western-surveillance-technology-in-the-hands-of-despots-a-802317.html.
big US defense contractors: Visiongain (8 Jan 2013), “‘Global cyberwarfare market to be worth $16.96bn in 2013’ says Visiongain Report,” Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/08/idUSnPre7f3zna+100+PRN20130108. James Bamford (12 Jun 2013), “The secret war,” Wired, http://www.wired.com/2013/06/general-keith-alexander-cyberwar/all.
The French company Bull SA: Paul Sonne and Margaret Coker (30 Aug 2011), “Firms aided Libyan spies,” Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424053111904199404576538721260166388.
Nigeria used the Israeli firm: Elbit Systems (24 Apr 2013), “Elbit Systems awarded a $40 million contract to supply a country in Africa with the Wise Intelligence Technology (WiT[TM]) System,” http://ir.elbitsystems.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61849&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1810121.
Syria used the German company: Der Spiegel (11 Apr 2012), “Monitoring the opposition: Siemens allegedly sold surveillance gear to Syria,” Der Spiegel, http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/ard-reports-siemens-sold-surveillance-technology-to-syria-a-826860.html.
the Italian company Area SpA: Ben Elgin and Vernon Silver (3 Nov 2011), “Syria crackdown gets Italy firm’s aid with U.S.-Europe spy gear,” Bloomberg News, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-03/syria-crackdown-gets-italy-firm-s-aid-with-u-s-europe-spy-gear.html.
The Gadhafi regime in Libya: Paul Sonne and Margaret Coker (30 Aug 2011), “Firms aided Libyan spies,” Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424053111904199404576
538721260166388.
systems used in Azerbaijan: Sarah Kendzior and Katy Pearce (11 May 2012), “How Azerbaijan demonizes the Internet to keep citizens offline,” Slate, http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/05/11/azerbaijan_eurovision_song_contest_and_keeping_activists_and_citizens_off_the_internet_.html.
and Uzbekistan: Sarah Kendzior (Jul 2012), “Digital freedom of expression in Uzbekistan: An example of social control and censorship,” New America Foundation, http://newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/KendziorFINAL7172012.pdf.
There are few laws: Open Technology Institute (9 Dec 2013), “International agreement reached controlling export of mass and intrusive surveillance technology,” New America Foundation, http://oti.newamerica.net/blogposts/2013/international_agreement_reached_controlling_export_of_mass_and_intrusive_surveillance.
built for corporate use: Uwe Buse and Marcel Rosenbach (8 Dec 2011), “The transparent state enemy: Western surveillance technology in the hands of despots,” Der Spiegel, http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-transparent-state-enemy-western-surveillance-technology-in-the-hands-of-despots-a-802317.html.
US-based Blue Coat sells: The complete list is Afghanistan, Bahrain, Burma, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela. Irene Poetranto et al. (9 Nov 2011), “Behind Blue Coat: Investigations of commercial filtering in Syria and Burma,” Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, https://citizenlab.org/2011/11/behind-blue-coat. Irene Poetranto et al. (29 Nov 2011), “Behind Blue Coat: An update from Burma,” Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, https://citizenlab.org/2011/11/behind-blue-coat-an-update-from-burma. Morgan Marquis-Boire et al. (15 Jan 2013), “Planet Blue Coat: Mapping global censorship and surveillance tools,” Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, https://citizenlab.org/2013/01/planet-blue-coat-mapping-global-censorship-and-surveillance-tools.
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