Two noteworthy pieces of information were made available over the weekend which further prove that our government and high technology firms are working together in an effort to expand the scope of the domestic police state.
First, Apple has been granted a new patent that allows the company to command its devices to shut down camera and microphone functionality on any iPhone or iPad based on its specific geographic location.
The technology makes it possible for the firm, at the behest of government officials, to create a “geo fence” around any venue or event which is identified as a security priority or sensitive area.
To put it bluntly, the powers that be could control what you can and cannot document on your wireless devices according to their own whims.
Given that the major technology companies are set to make wireless connectivity a major feature of the latest cameras, this development does not bode well for photographers and citizen journalists who are already experiencing a major crackdown on their first and fourth amendment rights.
Second, and quite possibly even more disturbing than Apple’s ability to directly access key recording features on our wireless devices, is the revelation that hackers breached an FBI Regional Cyber Action Team laptop computer and gained access to highly sensitive files that were later released on the internet. In those files were the unique device identifiers, user names, address books, and other personal details belonging to over 12 million Apple subscribers.
This suggests one of two possibilities. Either the FBI illegally hacked Apple’s subscriber database to acquire this information, or Apple willingly turned this information over to them.
Let’s be real here folks — 12 million UDIDs (unique device identifiers) is a hell of lot of them. Are you willing to believe that there was no “official transfer” from “somewhere” to the FBI of that data?
Occam’s razor leads us to the conclusion that the FBI and DHS are actively working with technology companies like Apple to create a database of subscribers in order to broaden an already flourishing control grid. With access to personal device details law enforcement agencies could then interface with telecommunications firms to rapidly locate any wirelessly connected digital device – and with Apple’s new “geozone” enforcement technology, could effectively shut down the recording capabilities of any phone, tablet or PC on demand.
Soon, as Steve Watson of Infowars notes, the free flow of information that has made it possible for video to be instantly distributed to millions of people around the world could simply be shut off with the click of a button.
With direct access to subscriber lists and Apple’s new technology government officials and law enforcement agencies could simply remove the ability of citizen journalists and private individuals to document events like protesters being doused with pepper spray as they sit motionless, police brutality and injustice, DHS harassment, and political persecution.
All dissent must be silenced.
Of course Apple SAYS that, but if they do anything along those lines it will be because the info they’re doing away with-and tell you about-is obsolete, anyway. Be sure there will be identifying and pinpointable markers, because that is how wireless comunications (and data) work. How else does your phone know to ring and the guy’s phone next to you doesn’t? They both have access to the same wavelengths, they’re just digitally “keyed” differently, and identifiable, if they want to look.
Apple and the FBI just got caught with their pants down together, so what do you expect them to say? I never liked Apple i-crap, anyway, because it is so restrictive about what you can do with it without paying them (music, etc.). The new iphone scanning app not only reads those goofy digital squares that are popping up in ads & everywhere, then sending you to that website, it also accesses your contact list and personal info. Why does it need those?
I’m very wary of putting my personal info into any gadget (I don’t) these days because it’s too easily accessed by anyone who really wants it, not to mention whatever backdoors are originally (secretly) designed into the systems.
I say, keep your old school “tech” stuff on hand; one day you may need that old, out of style CB radio just to get true, uncensored info in and out to others!
This update from CNET: the FBI denies ever having such data—they don’t know where the hackers got it—and Apple says that it will be phasing out unique device identifiers because of privacy concerns. Let’s hope Apple isn’t lying (but we can be sure that the FBI is, however).
I’d be curious to know what sort of measures have been, or will be, put in place to deal with individuals who defeat these controls? If Apple were to attempt to shut down a phone, what happens when the attempt fails? Does a person who deliberately defeats the remote control feature become a criminal? Under what law?
It’s important to remember that Apple isn’t the only manufacturer of wireless communications devices. How will this new (and patented apparently) feature migrate to Nokia, Samsung, LG and RIM? Why would anyone want to buy it?
The whole thing just doesn’t make any sense.
It’d really be interesting to know if Apple and others—let’s face it, they all cooperate in the end—are under pressure from the gubmint or if they are initiating their own tech solutions that just so happen to benefit the state. In the case of geofencing it’s hard to imagine why that would be valuable to anybody other than the Gestapo but who knows. And in any case, most people just don’t care about this kind of thing anyway. As long as they can upload pictures of their puppies onto facebook then they are happy.
And whichever guy we (re)elect we’ll get more of the same.
Quite right Tim, because which ever guy (or gal) that gets elected is there because they want to be in charge. Those of us that don’t want to be in charge, but just to follow the LALL / NAF principles seldom if ever get elected, because we won’t run to begin with. And the few in our camp that hold their noses and do run for office are generally people of honesty and integrity, so they won’t resort to the dastardly methods typically required to gain power and position. The whole political circus is a sordid mess and always has been.
The silence is falling. I guess this was hinted during Get Smart.
Of course this would only be used for legitimate purposes. 😮
This brings new meaning to all the news that is fit to print.
The really funny part is going to be when everything is tied in (which is pretty much is already). All cars, phones, and power grids cut off as they please. Oh mang things are going to be interesting!
Sweet, more good news!