Don’t worry – it’s only your metadata that the spies are collecting
The revelations from Edward Snowden to the “Guardian” newspaper – about how the American and British security establishments are monitoring our communications – are stunning and the full repercussions have still not been worked out. We need a lot more light on PRISM.
One of the messages that we are hearing – which is intended to reassure us – is that it is only metadata that is being collected. So, in the case for instance of telephone calls, it is not the actual content of your calls that is being intercepted and studied, but only the number of calls you make, where you make them, when you make them, how long they last, to whom you make them, and who they then in turn call.
In his weekly column for today’s “Observer” newspaper, John Naughton explains clearly why metadata is so useful – not least because it is machine readable and therefore easier to analyse.
June 23rd, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Here is a remarkable document from 1772: Using Metadata to Find Paul Revere. Truly there is nothing new under the sun!
The new McCarthyism, Obama’s crackdown views leaks as aiding enemies of U.S., underlines the importance of Snowden’s revelations of unethical and unconstitutional activity. I suspect such outrageously illiberal measures by the Obama administration will lead to more rather than fewer leaks.
June 25th, 2013 at 11:19 pm
According to a recent Guardian report – How does GCHQ’s internet surveillance work? – GCHQ is already intercepting and collecting a large fraction of internet traffic (both content and metadata) coming into and out of the UK, including much domestic traffic.
This renders the “Snoopers’ Charter” largely moot, and calls into question the British government’s commitment to the rule of law.