NSA's 'Anti-Privacy Services' and NASA's 'Earth-Shaking News' (O Globo, Brazil)
"What news could possibly create such a commotion? The exact date of the end of the world? Confirmation that ETs live among us? The location of God's dwelling place in spiral galaxy NGC 4414? ... Given the blackout of NASA's Web site, I realized there was nothing abstract about the U.S. government shutdown. There was no reference to the continuation of the NSA's anti-privacy services, which were uncovered by Edward Snowden. The case is now also undermining relations between Brazil and Canada. Where will it end? World government closing? The shutdown of the Internet?"
U.S. Ambassador to France Charles H. Rivkin leaves the French Foreign Ministry in Paris, after recieving a dressing down over the latest charges of massive NSA spying against France, Monday, Oct. 21,
Given
the blackout of NASA's Web site, I realized there was nothing abstract about the
U.S. shutdown. I also received a spam warning that on November 13th, NASA would
announce a "discovery that will so shake the earth, it will never be the
same."
Of
course I didn't for a second believe the authenticity of this message. But it
was fun to wonder what news could possibly create such a commotion. The exact
date of the end of the world? Confirmation that ETs
live among us? The location of God's dwelling place in spiral galaxy NGC 4414? So
I decided to visit NASA's Web site to see how its officially addressed this
viral rumor. Arriving there I came across text that really rocked my terrestrial
world. I never thought I'd read something like that during my existence on this
planet.
The
note was short and gruff. In English: "Due to the lapse in federal
government funding, this Web site is not available. We sincerely regret the
inconvenience." The translation in Spanish was more dramatic: "This Web
site is not available during the government shutdown. We deeply regret the annoyance
this may cause." The "lapse in federal government funding"
became "government shutdown," the "inconvenience" became "annoyance."
Never, even in the most radical, anarchical manifesto, have I seen the
possibility that a government - especially the U.S. government - could "close"
without any revolution. Everything I read in newspapers here in Brazil seemed
abstract to me (the impasse continues as we finalize this text). However, given
the blackout on NASA's Web site, I noted that that reality was not abstract at
all.
A
link below the note sent you to USA.gov, which provided information about the
services available during the government shutdown (the official term). I was
relieved to find out that, for example, despite the Statue of Liberty being
closed to tourists, astronauts at the International Space Station would
continue receiving support. Other consequences are more severe: "Hundreds
of thousands of federal employees - including many that protect us from
terrorist attacks, defend our borders, inspect our food and keep our skies safe
- will work without pay until the shutdown is over."
There
was no reference to the continuation - or lack thereof - of the NSA's anti-privacy services, which were uncovered by Edward
Snowden (I know he won an award this week, but what's he doing in Putin's
Russia?)
I
am increasingly impressed with developments in this case, which are now also
undermining relations between Brazil and Canada. Where will it end? World
government closing? The shutdown of the Internet? I keep coming back to two old
articles (something published in July is already an archaeological discovery)
that seem to me the greatest help in understanding our moment.
The first is by John Naughton, professor of the "public understanding
of technology" at the British Open University. The title is quite appropriate:
Edward
Snowden's not the Story. The Fate of the Internet is." What Naughton's article stresses, something few other analysts have
commented on in any detail, is the outsourcing of espionage, with the state hiring
private companies to capture/interpret "Big Data." Snowden wasn't a
public employee, but an employee of Booz Allen Hamilton, a mega corporation.
What government (especially one now more fragile from unheard-of shutdowns) can
guarantee that powerful companies won't use secret information for other
private matters?
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Another
must read is by George Dyson (son of Freeman, brother of Esther - nifty
family), historian of technology, author of the excellent Turing's
Cathedral about the invention after World War II of the first computers
by a group surrounding John von Neumann at Princeton [video, above]. This relationship of
technology, war and espionage is an old and intricate one. Dyson, in the column
NSA: The Decision Problem, recalls the Corona program.
Without this ultra-secret Cold War satellite program for photographing the
Soviet Union, which hired businesses from Stanford Industrial Park, we probably
wouldn't have Silicon Valley, or - what a shame - Google Earth.
The
difference in the two NSA secrets?: In the Cold War, there
was a very determined enemy. The war against terrorism (a sorry excuse for today's
espionage) is all pervasive. According to data cited by philosopher Michel Serres questioning the "industry of fear" -
terrorist acts kill only 15,000 people per year. A puny number compared to the one
million car accident victims. Yet we are all being watched. It's a terrible
world that needs the threat of war to push forward technological progress.
When will we learn to invent progress through peace?
