[9766] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Drafting Legislation [Yes, He *Is* a Bit Spooky]
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (David Rothman)
Fri Jan 21 00:46:19 1994
In-Reply-To: <9401201555.aa28251@pandora.sf.ca.us>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 94 21:59:04 -0400
To: cook@path.net, "com-priv" <com-priv@psi.com>,
Cc: "Multiple recipients of list" <cosndisc@yukon.cren.org>
From: "David Rothman" <rothman@netcom.com>
Reply-To: rothman@netcom.com
>DATE: Thu, 20 Jan 1994 18:56:28 -0500
>FROM: Gordon Cook <cook@path.net>
>
>David, I am not sure that you understand what Steele means by open
>source. >To the extent I understand it, his position is that the
>information explosion is such that any intelligence agency using the
>right tools can get virtually >all it would ever need to make excelent
>assessments from publically available >material.
Hmmm. You don't suppose our spooky friend could join the campaign
against the Clipper chip. His position, after all, to simplify a bit,
is: Why go beyond public material? Little need to break Baghdad's codes,
then?
Seriously, I couldn't agree more that valuable goodies are on the 'Net.
That's all the more reason for keeping the spies out of information
policy--so the 'Net can truly reflect what's going on. If the CIA keeps
its mitts off the management of the 'Net, it'll be all the more useful
to Langley.
On the other hand, I absolutely believe in CIA folks openly exchanging
views with other people on the 'Net. The CIA's existing policy, as
explained in Jayne Levin's letter, is just fine--in fact, *too*
conservative in my opinion.
A CIA official told her that Company folks would consult with others on
the 'Net about, say, the atomic waste problem in the CIS.
"We're not looking at the Internet as a way to gather intelligence," he
said. "The Internet is not viewed as a source of information for us."
Nonsense. There I'd agree with Robert Steele. In fact, I have trouble
thinking that the CIA isn't systematically monitoring the 'Net already.
>While this
is NOT an endorsement of him I will say that I heard him in person >at
a center for civic networking meeting in washington last april. He was
>VERY impressive.
So, he's a terrific salesman!
> I am not sure I remember how he phrased one approach
>he made >to Jock Gill who was also an attendee. Something to the effect
>that he Jock should get across to Gore that there was probably a billion
>dollars in military >intelligence budgets that could be successfully
>diverted for NREN purposes.
I've already told how we could cost-justify NREN-type things through
increased government efficiency and less of a bureaucratic burden on us
citizens.
But if the military wants to give up the billion, then fine! I just
don't want strings attached.
> >According to what I remember from Jayne
Levin's first internet letter the >CIA and other intelligence agencies
are already quite openly on the net. >
As I said, that's terrific with me. I just don't want 'em *running* the
net.
BTW, I hear that someone with the comp-priv list has CIA connections;
you almost surely know who I mean. If he doesn't censor anybody, I won't
have a heart attack. But if he does? Then we need to speak up. At any
rate, one list doth not a net make.
-------------------------------
Slight correction not related to your message: In an earlier post I may
have said the nubmer of overseas replies to my TeleRead proposal was
higher than it actually was. I'd want to check. But it is high even
considering the global nature of the net. I've heard from Mexico,
Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, the U.K.--just scads of
places, especially next door in Canada. That's all the more reason not
to insult our international customers with wild talk of spying on
them.
Works in the other direction, too, of course. I'd rather the KGB or the
French not spy on us. But that's just the nature of global nets. The
cork is out of the bottle, and if Robert Steele says as much, I'd agree
with him.
**************************************************************************
David H. Rothman "So we beat on, boats against
rothman@netcom.com the current...."
805 N. Howard St., #240
Alexandria, Va. 22304
703-370-6540(o)(h)
I *encourage* online reproduction of my public postings.
Permission hereby granted--implicit, explicit, whatever. Down
with unnecessary restrictions on the flow of knowledge!
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