A recent court case in which the U.S. Government ordered a
former email provider to hand over its SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Key could
have a profound effect on privacy all across the Web. Many websites use SSL
Keys to lock away encrypted data. Sites such as Bank of America, Amazon,
Google, and Facebook are some of the few. If the Government is allowed the SSL
Key for one email provider in the current case, that verdict would make it
easier for the Government to gain access to the Keys of other major websites,
and in turn would have access to vast amounts of personal information.
Why
would the Government want the SSL Key of a former email provider? Because it was
email provider of choice for Edward Snowden called Lavabit, which served not
only Snowden but 400,000 other users. Like some other email providers, Lavabit
encrypted all of its communications between users, and that information is
still encrypted to this day even though the site was shut down.
Snowden, who infamously leaked NSA mass surveillance programs to the world, released
his Lavabit email address soon after he arrived in Russia. Snowden's email
address could have a large amount of important information. But with access to Snowdens account the Government could also
read through any of Lavabits other accounts.
The
Problem lies in that the Government gaining access to all of Lavabits encrypted
accounts violates the 4th amendment of the US Constitution, and the
Government would be able to view private information of over 400,000 people.
EFF, an organization that supports digital rights, was alarmed at the potential
possibilities of allowing the US Government access to the private information
not only on Lavabit but other major sites. An EFF spokesperson stated "Facebook
has a single private key that protects the communications of over 1.26 billion
users. In the case of Facebook, having the private key used by the company
would give unfettered access to the personal information of almost 20 percent
of all of the human beings on the planet obtained through the Facebook site for
three years." Hopefully our Privacy won't potentially be compromised
because of one court case. Do you think the Government should have a right to
access encrypted information?
Kirk, Jeremy. "Lavabit Encryption Key Ruling Threatens Internet Privacy." Computerworld. International Data Group Inc., 25 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9243525/Lavabit_encryption_key_ruling_threatens_Internet_privacy
I don't think the government should be able to access the SSL key. I think the government shouldn't be able to access our personal information because next the government will be putting cameras in everyone's home.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but unfortunately they can do what they want. Hopefully it will not get to that point though.
DeleteWhile I am not a fan of the government being all in my business, I am much more worried about the threats of terrorism and possible breaches of national security issues than whether or not they know I chatted with my mother via email. With everything in life, there is always a compromise. If you want to purchase something, you may not be able to purchase something else. If you accept one job, you may not be able to accept another. Just as we’ve learned how social media tracks our behavior, and by using these free services we allow it, and how credit card companies monitor our spending, the government must monitor certain behaviors as well.
ReplyDeleteIn a perfect world, people would all be law abiding citizens, and therefore demanding privacy would not be an issue. Unfortunately, we do not live in that world, we live in one in which there are people trying to kill U.S. Citizens. If I need to be frisked at the airport so I won’t die in a hijacked plane, fine. If someone needs to read my useless chatter and babbling on my email to prevent my city from being bombed, so be it. With every take, there is a give. In the cases regarding my safety, I gladly give up a little bit of privacy.
That is a good way to look at it. As I see it, if you are not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.
DeleteInteresting thoughts in your article and in the comments. It takes some thought to decide which stand to take. I see both sides. I feel as thought I have a right to keep my personal information private from others (such as the government). But at the same time, it seems as though nothing is truly "private" anymore these days. Even when a site or program say they are "secure," I am still skeptical. If the government's true intentions were to solely protect U.S. internet users if given access to the SSL Key, then I do not think I would have a problem with it. They have many more resources that I have, so why not leave the protecting to them? But is that really what they would use it for? I don't know. It's a risk you take. Like Cynthia said, we do not live in a perfect world. So I understand why it seems to make sense to give up some privacy in order to be more protected in the end.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on that, I also see both sides. I want my freedom but I also want to be protected. Cynthia S. has a good way to look at it, with every take you must also give.
DeletePersonally, I am not sure how I feel about it. My argument is that I am not stressed over it because I am no one to hide what I am doing. Although, some people are simply skeptical about anyone having access to their information. My question would be what exactly is the motive? Why does the government truly want this information and what are they planning to do with it once they have access? Even though we hear so much about the government trying to get access to our privacy, we don't know exactly what it is they are trying to achieve from that.
ReplyDeleteIt would definitely be nice to know more about what they are actually looking for but we all know they will not give us that much information.
DeleteI was told once anything you write, post, email etc. online is up for grabs by whoever has the ability to find it. It has always stuck in my head when using the internet. I mean yes, I hate the idea that the government can find ways to find out all my information, but do we really trust sites like Facebook to keep our information? I feel like people(not all, but speaking in general terms) tend to give out private information way too easily. Although I feel like today, we are much more informed about the problems with privacy invasion. I think that it is important to research the websites you are giving information out on and read through their statements before hitting "accept". I would be curious to find out how far the government will push getting SSL Keys in the future if they already had the ability to do it once. I am sure that this will be just the start of another avenue for the government to find out information, but I do see the positive sides too. I would rather the government have some of my information, if it means they are also regulating and watching for terrorist activities. Its unfortunately part of the world we live in today, and I'm sure the government will use all possible avenues to monitor terrorist activity.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up I was also told the same thing. I guess that is why this whole big dilemma is not as big of deal to me as it is others. I have nothing to hide so to me, I am not so worried.
DeleteI believe the government already has access to more things, in regards to our privacy, that we don't know about. Unless, someone is being investigated for a crime and the police need to view email for evidence I think email should remain to be a private communication. The government shouldn't be able to access it.
ReplyDeleteThey are probably looking at this blog as we speak. Who knows, because I definitely don't. There is no telling what they do and don't do.
DeleteAlthough, I understand that the government's reasoning behind trying to read our private messages is to "protect' U.S. citizens from possible terrorist threats, I don't think it's right for them look at our private business especially when the majority of the private information is that of normal common folks. It gives me an uneasy feeling knowing that I'm being watched even though I have nothing to hide. The government already monitors a lot of what we do, they should at least leave our e-mails, Facebook, messages alone.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but if they are doing it to protect my freedom I am willing to give up some internet privacy to obtain that.
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