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South China Morning Post, Hong Kong

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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?"

 

By Hermano Vianna

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Translated By Brandi Miller

 

October 21, 2013

 

Brazil – O Globo – Original Article (Portuguese)

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,

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: France Summons U.S. Envoy Over Spying Claims, Oct. 21, 00:00:37RealVideo

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.

 

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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?

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Guardian, U.K.: France Summons U.S. Envoy Over NSA Surveillance Claims
Dep Speigel, Germany: Fresh Leak: NSA Accessed Mexican President's E-mail
La Jornada, Mexico: Nations Should Quickly Heed Advice of Greenwald, Assange
Guardian, U.K.: World Editors: 'What Guardian is Doing is Important for Democracy
Guardian, U.K.: Surveillance, Democracy, Transparency - Views from Across the Globe
Guardian, U.K.: EDITORIAL: Spies and Journalism: When Worlds Collide
Izvestia, Russia: Global Call to Arms Against 'American Exceptionalism'
Huanqiu, China: Letter By Vladimir Putin Exposes 'Exceptional' American Inequality
de Volkskrant, The Netherlands: Putin's Note to Americans a Guilty Pleasure for World
Epoca, Brazil: America's 'Undemocratic' Surveillance is More Invasive than China's
Guardian, U.K.: Committee to Protect Journalists Issues Scathing Report on Obama
Guardian, U.K.: NSA Reform Under Threat by 'Business-as-Usual Brigade' - Wyden
Estadao, Brazil: Warning to Brazil Lawmakers Before Meeting with Snowden
Folha, Brazil: NSA's Great Power Challenge to Brazil
El Mundo, Spain: The U.N.'s Yearly Show Again Plays a Vital Role
Folha, Brazil: 'In His Heart,' Obama Knows Rousseff is Right about Spying
Opera Mundi, Brazil: Outraged Evo Morales Wants Obama Tried for 'Crimes Against Humanity'
Pagina Siete, Bolivia: U.S. Fears, Not Evil, Motivate Desperate Search for Snowden
El Nacional, Bolivia: Snowden: South America Must Take Stand Against Old Europe
El Universal, Venezuela: Maduro Uses Snowden Asylum to Distract Venezuelan People
El Nuevo Diario, Nicaragua: 'Imperial Nations' Mock International Law
El Nacional, Venezuela: Bienvenido to Venezuela, Double Agent Snowden!
Hoy, Ecuador: Snowden Highlights Ecuador's Decision-Making Paradox
Folha, Brazil: Dilma Postpones Her U.S. State Visit; Saves Face for Both Sides
Epoca, Brazil: President Rousseff: Snowden Documents Show U.S. Economic Espionage
Epoca, Brazil: After NSA Scandal, Brazil Seeks Reduced U.S. Control Over Internet
Carta Maior, Brazil: Invasions of Privacy and the Tools of Terror Maintenance
O Globo, Brazil: Adjusting to Our 'Brave New World' of Liberty
O Globo, Brazil: NSA Targeted Latin American 'Trade Secrets'
O Globo, Brazil: Brazil 'Gravely Concerned' Over Massive NSA Espionage
O Globo, Brazil: Leading Brazilians Condemn U.S. Surveillance Against the Nation
O Globo, Brazil: President Rousseff's U.S. State Visit Imperiled By NSA Spying
Der Spiegel, Germany: 'Follow the Money': NSA Monitors Financial World
Guardian, U.K.: Edward Snowden 'Living Incognito in Russia'
BBC News, U.K.: Reporter Glenn Greenwald to Testify at Brazil Spy Probe
Der Spiegel, Germany: iSpy: How America's NSA Accesses Smartphone Data
Estadao, Brazil: Explaining John Kerry's Shellacking in Brazil
Cuba Debate, Cuba: Castro: 'Who Was Paid to Lie' about Snowden Being Allowed in Cuba?
Jornal Do Brasil, Brazil: Chancellor Tells Kerry: 'Terminate' Spying on Brazilians
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Russia: The Prohibitive Global Price of Poor U.S.-Russia Relations
Der Spiegel, Germany: Codename 'Apalachee': How America Spies on Europe and the U.N.
Der Spiegel, Germany: Merkel Rival Calls for Suspension of Trade Talks
Telegraph, U.K.: NSA Employees Spied on their Lovers Using Eavesdropping Program
Reuters, U.K.: Close Cameron Aides Asked Paper to Destroy Snowden Data
People's Daily, China: America Must Come to the Table on Surveillance
Guardian, U.K.: Innocent have Nothing to Fear? After Miranda, We Know Where that Leads
Guardian, U.K.: Groklaw Legal Site Shuts Over Fears of NSA E-Mail Snooping
Guardian, U.K.: 'Sending a Message': What U.S. and U.K. are Attempting to Do
Guardian, U.K.: U.S. Senators Warn NSA Privacy Breaches Just 'Tip of the Iceberg'
Der Spiegel, Germany: Merkel and the NSA: The Scandal That Will Not Die
Guardian, U.K.: Dangers All Reporters Now Face: David Miranda and Journalism
Guardian, U.K.: David Miranda's Detention a 'Betrayal of Trust and Principle'
Guardian, U.K.: 'Attempt at Intimidation Will Result in More Disclosures'
Savon Sanomat, Finland: Better For Finland that Obama Goes to Sweden
Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia: Snowden: Kremlin Tool for Reducing U.S. Web Dominance
Huanqiu, China: 'United Global Front' Defeats America in Snowden Affair
Die Tageszeitung, Germany: Manning Trial: Superficial Justice to Save American Face
El Pais, Spain: Manning Verdict a Warning to Future 'Heroes of Transparency'
Izvestia, Russia: Turning Mr. Snowden into a Tool of Russian 'Soft Power'
De Morgan, Belgium: U.S.-E.U. Meeting on NSA Surveillance a 'Sham'
Der Spiegel: Three PRISMS? Parliament Seeks Clarity in NSA Espionage Scandal
ABC, Spain: Fear of Vladivostok Escape for Snowden Drives U.S. Threats Against Venezuela
Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia: Snowden: Putin's Perfect 'Anti-Magnitisky' Weapon
Gazeta, Russia: Chapman and Snowden in: 'The Ghost of Sheremetyevo'
Izvestia, Russia: South vs. North: Snowden's Place in History is Assured
Kommersant, Russia: Snowden's Presence May Scuttle Obama's Visit to Russia
Izvestia, Russia: 'Servile Europeans' Inflict Huge Insult on Bolivians
Wiener Zeitung, Austria: Edward Snowden is No Enemy of Our State!
La Stampa: Europe Will Rue Toppling Obama Over Snowden
The Hankyoreh, South Korea: What Hugo Chavez Would Say about U.S. Surveillance
Le Monde, France: French Big Brother is Watching You!
Guardian, U.K.: The NSA's Indiscriminate Mass Spying on Brazilians
Le Monde, France: French Political Class Holds 'Outrage Contest' Over NSA Spying
DNA, France: Espionage ... From Washington, With Love
Liberation, France: The NSA 'Panopticon'
Der Standard, Austria: Mass NSA Surveillance Implies 'Bizarre Presumption of Guilt'
Guardian,U.K.: NSA/GCHQ Metadata Reassurances are 'Breathtakingly Cynical'
Observer, U.K.: U.S. Attempts to Block Edward Snowden 'Bolsters' Case for Asylum
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany: NSA: Merkel Ignores the Nightmare of 'Stasi Squared'
Der Spiegel: What's All the Fuss About U.S. Spying?
Guardian, U.K.: Britain Blocks Crucial Espionage Talks between U.S. and Europe
Guardian, U.K.: France 'runs vast electronic spying operation using NSA-style Methods'
Guardian, U.K.: Venezuela and Nicaragua offer asylum to Edward Snowden
Elsevier, The Netherlands: Snowden's Revelations are of 'No Benefit to Society'
Der Spiegel, Germany: NSA Spying on Germany: How Much Did Angela Merkel Know?
Der Spiegel, Germany Bolivia Irate Over Forced Landing
Der Spiegel, Germany: Germany Rejects Asylum for Snowden
News, Switzerland: Humanity's Cyber-Hypocrisy Overload
El Comercio, Ecuador: Wanting to Keep U.S. Trade Privileges is Not Treason!
Der Spiegel, Germany: Spying 'Out of Control': EU Official Questions Trade Negotiations
Der Spiegel, Germany: Growing Alarm: German Prosecutors To Review Allegations of U.S. Spying
Guardian, U.K.: New NSA Leaks Show how U.S. is Bugging its European Allies
Der Spiegel, Germany: Partner and Target: NSA Snoops on 500 Million German Data Connections
Diario de Noticias, Portugal: America 'Summons World' to Renewed Cold War
Guardian, U.K.: Ecuador Rejects U.S. Trade Pact to Thwart Snowden 'Blackmail'
Guardian, U.K: Glenn Greenwald on Personal Side of Taking on NSA - Personal Smears
Guardian, U.K: How NSA Continues to Harvest Your Online Data
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Gazeta, Russia: Why Russia, China, and Others, Love 'Poking America in the Eye'
Guardian, U.K.: Snowden Affair Revives Politics of the Cold War
Guardian, U.K.: 'History will be Kind' to Edward Snowden
Guardian, U.K.: Latin America is ready to defy the US over Snowden and other issues
Guardian, U.K.: Putin Confirms Snowden in Moscow Airport; No Extradition
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People's Daily, China: U.S. Internet Hypocrisy Creates Global Suspicion
Global Times, China: Internet 'Muckraking Frenzy' Damaging China's Global Interests
Huanqiu, China: 'Demented' Hacking Charges Betray U.S. Scheme for Cyber Domination
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Folha, Brazil: Trust in the State Inadequate as a Pretext for NSA's Spying
Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, France: Edward Snowden is Not the Issue
El Pais, Spain: Powerless, Europe Must Nevertheless Stand Up to NSA Spying Program
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Global Times, China: Extraditing Snowden Would Be a Mistake
Xinhua, China: 'Idealistic' Edward Snowden Should be Welcomed by China
Mediapart, France: 'Autonomous Machines': World Reawakens to U.S. Web Dominance
Guardian, U.K.: Britain's GCHQ Intercepted Data from Foreign Politicians at G20 Summits
Le Monde, France: French Lawmakers Scramble Over News of NSA Surveillance
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Russia Today, Russia: Putin: Government Surveillance 'Should Not Break the Law'
Guardian, U.K.: Russia Offers to Consider Edward Snowden Asylum Request
Handelsblatt, Germany: Obama's Data Nightmare is Europe's
FAZ, Germany: Protect Us from Terrorism ... and Government Snooping
SCMP, Hong Kong: What Will Hong Kong do with Snowden? ... The World is Watching
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Suedostschweiz, Switzerland: Exposed: Spy Powers that Obama Shouldn't Use
Le Temps, Switzerland: Exploring the Limits of Sino-U.S. Compromise
Business Day, South Africa: Obama Sets 'Dubious Example' on Freedom
Economist, U.K.: The Reason We Fear Broad Surveillance
Guardian, U.K.: The NSA's Secret Tool to Track Global Surveillance Data

 

 

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Posted By Worldmeets.US Oct. 21, 2013, 01:54pm