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July 2, 2008 at 10:30:44
Promoted to Headline (H2) on 7/2/08: by BABAK PASDAR Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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In October 2003, I led a rapid deployment team for a major wireless carrier responsible for overhauling its security system. For the past year and a half, I have anonymously briefed Congress and nongovernment organizations about my observations, going public last month with crucial public interest information: An unknown third party using a mysterious "Quantico Circuit" has provided the federal government with unfettered access to everything on the carrier's network.Recognizing this critical security breach and taking preliminary correction steps, my attempts at implementing controls and logging were blocked and rebutted with threats and admonishments by carrier executives. Despite ready capabilities, the company had opted not to protect itself and its customers. Unfettered access to the carrier's systems offers powerful information. All calls and data communications including e-mail, Web, text messages, pictures and videos are attainable in real-time. Any person could be physically located, and billing records including names, financial information, contacts and behavioral data, are accessible. Tracking abilities have expanded to subscriber desktops with new "smartphones" -- unnecessarily requiring personal log on credentials to business and personal computers to deliver e-mail, contact and calendaring information. This entrusts private information with the carrier that goes far beyond mobile phone usage.On March 4, I disclosed my experience in an affidavit to Congress. On March 6, House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell wrote a "Dear Colleague" letter to all 435 House members requesting an investigation prior to any carrier immunity discussions. On March 14, the House voted to deny immunity and to investigate the telecoms. Who was at the other end of the Quantico Circuit? What information did they obtain? Does this comply with longstanding federal law? Are telecoms and other corporations paid to betray our privacy? We need answers to those questions and more. What I witnessed is just one strand in a technological web that all but eliminates any expectation of privacy. Aside from the capabilities described above, credit, ATM and even grocery discount cards can and are being used to identify, locate, track and behaviorally categorize people. Ubiquitous Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are permanently hidden in almost everything including clothes, packaged goods, credit cards and toll payment devices.
As small as a grain of sand, they offer not just tracking but also detailed information on anyone or any item. Let's not forget the ever-expanding network of surveillance cameras that monitor highways, street corners, stores and buildings that are augmented by an even larger network of ATM cameras. Satellites can be turned on citizens -- consider Google maps. Our government tracks all Internet use with powerful tools that analyze and prepare behavior-based reports. Any single piece of information can be effortlessly cross-referenced to build an electronic dragnet constantly monitoring our actions and even predicting our behavior. Information overload and processing power, once the sole barrier to these tactics, are no longer a factor.
Given precipitous developments in technology, inaction today would surely have an exponentially greater impact on the rights and lives of future American generations -- where an Orwellian nightmare would become reality. My observations at the telecom may be the tip of an iceberg that is fatal for a free society. Before there are any more blank checks to disregard the law, we need to investigate and learn the full scope of indiscriminate corporate and administration spying.
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The crooks know that terrorism is a con of their invention.
They spy to steal and control the Democrats. They will use all their powers to secure advantage. Look at the so called justice dept. by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1760 comments [39 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 2, 2008 at 6:29:07 PM
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IAW SUPPORTS BABAK PASKDAR
The International Association of Whistleblowers (IAW) strongly supports Mr. Pasdar for coming out with the truth of flagrant federal abuses of our right to privacy. Mr. Pasdar and GAP must be commended for their courage in the face of flagrant big brother. Thanks, and keep up the great work! by James Murtagh (42 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 117 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 2, 2008 at 10:01:41 PM
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patrolling the net
In a solicitation posted on the Web last week, the command said it was looking for a contractor to provide "Internet awareness services" to support "force protection" -- the term of art for the security of U.S. military installations and personnel. "The purpose of the services will be to identify and assess stated and implied threat, antipathy, unrest and other contextual data relating to selected Internet domains," says the solicitation. Hembrook was tight-lipped about the proposal. "The more we talk about it, the less effective it will be," he said. "If we didn't have to put it out in public (to make the contract award), we wouldn't have." more at http://www.upi.com/ by Aurora (0 articles, 95 quicklinks, 52 diaries, 648 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 at 12:09:05 AM
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Thank You to a Fine American Patriot
Thank you Babak for the courage to come forward with your discovery. You are truly a fine American patriot. Zena Crenshaw, Executive Director - National Judicial Conduct and Disability Law Project, Inc. and Radio Host of "Change of Venue" by Zena Crenshaw (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 at 9:03:24 AM
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