Posts by Interested_Observer

How Google paved the way for NSA's intercepts - just as The Register predicted 9 years ago

Re: Thank you for writing this

The Apple privacy policy is particularly iniquitous. What many people don't realize is that APPLE defines many things as Non-Personal information which are clearly and legally (in the EU and the majority of countries) clearly the opposite ... ie, definitely personal information.

Take the Apple definition:

"We also collect non-personal information − data in a form that does not permit direct association with any specific individual. We may collect, use, transfer, and disclose non-personal information for any purpose. "

Notice that APPLE defines non-personal information as any information that does not permit DIRECT association with any specific individual. This provides the convenient and massive loophole that anything that allows INDIRECT association with an individual is fair game according to Apple, and can and IS used for any purpose that APPLE sees fit.

Compare this definition with the EU definition,

Article 2a: 'personal data' shall mean any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person ('data subject'); an identifiable person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identification number or to one or more factors specific to his physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural or social identity;

The inclusion of "identifable" is a key point, widely used internationally since the OECD definition in the '50s

So against this background I think people need to understand that the Apple definition is nothing more than a self-serving legal word-play who'se SOLE intention is to protect Apple against US Class-Action lawsuits. It has NOTHING to do with actually protecting the privacy of Apple customers.

Even in the US, which is not exactly famous for protection of Privacy and civil liberties, despite the hypocritical claims we often hear from the US to the contrary, the concept of "indirect" personal information is found in a number of legal definitions:

For example: (Wikipedia)

The U.S. government used the term "personally identifiable" in 2007 in a memorandum from the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget (OMB),[11] and that usage now appears in US standards such as the NIST Guide to Protecting the Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information (SP 800-122).[5] The OMB memorandum defines PII as follows:

Information which can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, such as their name, social security number, biometric records, etc. alone, or when combined with other personal or identifying information which is linked or linkable to a specific individual, such as date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, etc.

So please people: Don't fall for the bullshit.

'It's a joke!' ... Bill Gates slams Mark Zuckerberg's web-for-the-poor dream

Re: Both views are right

Given the global snooping of the US Government, and the evident failure of ANYONE to be able to stop it, I can't really concur with your dream of the internet being able to have any real impact on Tyranny. But I'd love to see you prove me wrong. The best place to start would be the good ole U S of A.

Irish privacy boss hauled to court for NOT probing Facebook for spook links

Its really about time Europe took a big stick to the UK and the Irish. They are big blockers and do everything that they can to sabotage Data Protection, Taxation, Banking Controls and a number of other things which cost the other members of the EU dearly. British resistence to effective controls on the banking sector, and the irish tactic of providing tax-breaks for multinationals is getting out of hand. But interestingly enough the Irish were the first to come to the EU and ask for solidarity when their own banking system collapsed.

The english speaking members of the EU really need to decide if they want to be a member of the community or not, but sabotaging as much as they can while collecting subsidies and "Special refunds" has got to stop. Cameron should not only hold a referendum to find out if the UK wants to stay in the EU or not. The rest of the EU should hold a referendum to decide if they should be kicked out or not.

Snowden: 'I have data on EVERY NSA operation against China'

Re: Stupid

I live and work with a number of people who were born behind the Berlin wall and it is precisely those people, who experienced boundless state surveillance who are most vocal in condemning it. Similarly, it is not a coincidence that Germany is highly sensitive to protecting privacy and fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. For all their weaknesses and mistakes, I do believe the Germany have learned what the americans are still attempting to deny.

A £30,000, 295bhp 4G MODEM?!? Must be the Audi S3 Quattro, then

Re: I don't usually descend to obscenity...

Why the F*** does ANYONE need access to facebook and twitter. ??

Google follows Amazon with auto-encryption of cloud data

The most interesting and reassuring word in this article is "crumb".

Do they encrypt before or after making a copy and sending a copy to the NSA ?

Just wondering

Microsoft supporting Surface with Windows RT until 2017

Support till 2017

Ah .... does that go for both users ?

Will Samsung's patent court doc leak backfire spectacularly?

Pot: Kettle you are black !! you should be sanctioned

The comments of the "Apple legal Eagle" are dripping with irony and hypocrisy. Given that Apple has access to the material concerned, and knows full well that this evidence would destroy the credibility of their arguments on the innovative nature of rectangles with rounded corners, it may be said that what Apple is actually doing is nothing short of wilful deception and lying on a grand scale. To describe this as "sticking to the moral high ground" is no less than astonishing to the observer with a modest sense of fairness and justice.