Mastering the Internet

[Ian Batten]

On 06 May 09, at 1139, Charles Lindsey wrote:

> On Tue, 05 May 2009 21:19:47 +0100, Peter Fairbrother <zenadsl6186@zen.co.uk 
> > wrote:
>
>> Sigh. Flows where? To GCHQ. or along the wire to the box?
>>
>> (hint - the answer is the second one. In the first case, even if  
>> the box isn't switched on, it's still interception, as long as GCHQ  
>> control the switch.)
>
> Exactly! That is the nub of the whole matter. If there exists some  
> point in the system beyond which data does not flow unless some  
> "switch" is set (and whether that is before, inside, of after the  
> "black box" is just a metter of semantics), then the question is  
> "who controls that switch?". If it is the ISP who opens it in  
> response to a properly authorized request (whether for traffic data  
> or full content, or whatever) then that is fine. If it is GCHQ, then  
> it is interception, and hence illegal.

What about if it's GCHQ who opens it in response to a properly  
authorized request?   Or is it your contention that they cannot be  
trusted no matter what governance is in place?

Hint: there's only been one documented case of mass interception and  
modification of traffic in the UK.  Was it carried out by (a) spooky  
people from Cheltenham or (b) an ISP seeking additional advertising  
revenue?  What makes you believe that ISPs are the ones wearing the  
white hats?