Comments on: Spy Satellites http://cubist.cs.washington.edu/Security/2008/02/17/spy-satellites/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:01:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Patrick Williams http://cubist.cs.washington.edu/Security/2008/02/17/spy-satellites/#comment-2368 Patrick Williams Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:41:08 +0000 http://cubist.cs.washington.edu/Security/2008/02/17/spy-satellites/#comment-2368 Well what is there to lose? Why is one's privacy so important? If everyone knew what everyone else did it seems as though there would be a much needed discussion about what laws we should keep, and those that we should abandon. I can't claim to follow the law to the T (where does that expression come from?) but all in all I'd feel pretty bad about the person that will watch the video of my life. In fact I'd almost like for my life to be monitored to avoid being framed (hey, not valuing my privacy doesn't mean I'm not paranoid). Ok, I've done as much devil's advocating that I can... Well what is there to lose? Why is one’s privacy so important? If everyone knew what everyone else did it seems as though there would be a much needed discussion about what laws we should keep, and those that we should abandon. I can’t claim to follow the law to the T (where does that expression come from?) but all in all I’d feel pretty bad about the person that will watch the video of my life. In fact I’d almost like for my life to be monitored to avoid being framed (hey, not valuing my privacy doesn’t mean I’m not paranoid).

Ok, I’ve done as much devil’s advocating that I can…

]]> By: imv http://cubist.cs.washington.edu/Security/2008/02/17/spy-satellites/#comment-2331 imv Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:43:03 +0000 http://cubist.cs.washington.edu/Security/2008/02/17/spy-satellites/#comment-2331 I have a problem with any sort of warrant or oversight in which the citizen does not know he/she is under scrutiny. The satellites present a problem because infra-red imagery is able to see into our homes, which are the last vestiges of privacy we have. Not only is our privacy being invaded, but we are unable to find out if our privacy has been invaded. When this is the case, it is impossible to verify that the spying is justified in any way. Instead, we have a self-policing system - we've all seen how that goes. I don't buy the check on power provided by having requests to see images being cleared by the Homeland Security Department. The department's mission is overly-broad and has already crossed the line many times. The following quote is worrisome "The details of how law enforcement agencies could use the images during investigations would be determined in the future after legal and policy questions have been resolved, the official said." Unfortunately, the system is being implemented <em>before</em> fully addressing policy questions. I have a problem with any sort of warrant or oversight in which the citizen does not know he/she is under scrutiny. The satellites present a problem because infra-red imagery is able to see into our homes, which are the last vestiges of privacy we have. Not only is our privacy being invaded, but we are unable to find out if our privacy has been invaded. When this is the case, it is impossible to verify that the spying is justified in any way. Instead, we have a self-policing system - we’ve all seen how that goes. I don’t buy the check on power provided by having requests to see images being cleared by the Homeland Security Department. The department’s mission is overly-broad and has already crossed the line many times. The following quote is worrisome “The details of how law enforcement agencies could use the images during investigations would be determined in the future after legal and policy questions have been resolved, the official said.” Unfortunately, the system is being implemented before fully addressing policy questions.

]]> By: robert http://cubist.cs.washington.edu/Security/2008/02/17/spy-satellites/#comment-1662 robert Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:30:25 +0000 http://cubist.cs.washington.edu/Security/2008/02/17/spy-satellites/#comment-1662 Perhaps an even broader concern about the use of spy satellites in general is: how secure are the systems that are downloading images from them? It seems quite clear that data has to be transferred from the satellite taking pictures to installations on the ground. It's also fairly likely that these installations are remotely accessible (for some definition of "accessible"). This may mean that people can log in examine satellite imagery remotely, or it may mean something more benign. (Or it may not be remotely "accessible" at all). The possibility of our government taking pictures of our citizens breaking laws is certainly somewhat disconcerting, but it could arguably be more scary to have foreign governments or even citizens prying into the private lives of the country's residents. Does anybody have any thoughts on how access to these images might be used to benefit individuals (or corporations). Foreign governments don't count. :) Perhaps an even broader concern about the use of spy satellites in general is: how secure are the systems that are downloading images from them?

It seems quite clear that data has to be transferred from the satellite taking pictures to installations on the ground. It’s also fairly likely that these installations are remotely accessible (for some definition of “accessible”). This may mean that people can log in examine satellite imagery remotely, or it may mean something more benign. (Or it may not be remotely “accessible” at all). The possibility of our government taking pictures of our citizens breaking laws is certainly somewhat disconcerting, but it could arguably be more scary to have foreign governments or even citizens prying into the private lives of the country’s residents. Does anybody have any thoughts on how access to these images might be used to benefit individuals (or corporations). Foreign governments don’t count. :)

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