3/17/2017 0 Comments March 17th, 2017Blog 8
http://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=519593195:519593196 This interview highlights some of the revelations provided by the recent leak of internal CIA documents by WikiLeaks. There are a few topics covered in the short interview, most of which are about hacks and encryption. But the idea that caught my attention and got me thinking was if the government should be notifying the organizations that develop the technologies about the vulnerabilities that the government is exploiting. The ability to collect information is the bread and butter of an intelligence agency. By notifying a technology developer of a vulnerability an intelligence agency is using the agency would effectively be restricting access to information the agency would either have trouble gaining by another means or would not be able to obtain at all. On the other hand, by not notifying a technology developer of the vulnerability the intelligence agency is using then they are essentially leaving an entry point for other parties to access. If the intelligence agency was able to find a particular exploit then it is given that some other party would eventually find this exploit as well given enough time and effort. I think it would be wonderful if the intelligence community notified technology developers of vulnerabilities in their product but I know that it is extremely unlikely for this activity to take place due to the secretiveness of these types of government agencies. I think that the reach of the government intelligence agencies has become overstretched. These intelligence agencies are actively seeking technological exploits and hacks to pry their way into data to which they were not meant to have access. The main problem that I have with the current scenario is that there is distinct lack of government transparency. The government is supposed to be a champion for the people, but instead it has become an oppressor. By continuing in the activity of mass surveillance and not disclosing sensitive vulnerabilities found during their quest for more data, the government intelligence agencies are imposing their will on the governed instead of the governed requesting or even desiring this activity. At what point does the government cross the line between an entity for the benefit of its citizens and and entity for the benefit of itself. The message which is broadcast by the actions of the intelligence community is that every person is under investigation and they have no care for the well being of the citizens or their organizations, whether this is the intended message or not.
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AuthorPearce : CS-SE student Archives
May 2017
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