Privacy, Security Trade-Offs Reassessed (spy cams being justified)

Washington Post ^ | Thursday, September 13, 2001 | Ariana Eunjung Cha and Jonathan Krim

[Darth Sidious]

When the FBI came knocking a year ago, asking Internet companies to install an e-mail eavesdropping program so that they could catch potential criminals, many executives balked. It was, they said, an invasion of personal privacy.

But yesterday, when the agents came seeking information that might help them find the perpetrators of the attacks that likely killed thousands at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, some were willing -- even eager -- to help out.

[Darth Sidious]

A little while ago I read of the FAA banning all knives from airline flights. Which makes very little sense: as a knifemaker, I've seen knives made from all kinds of material. Stone, bone, wood, ceramic materials, plastic... all can be used to fashion a blade. None of which would show up on a metal detector. This moved seems very much a knee-jerk reaction devoid of clarity of thought.

Now the obvious of this slippery slope is beginning to happen: Americans being asked to surrender a little bit of freedom, for a little bit of security and comfort.

Anyone else feel like we're slowly but surely being asked to turn ourselves into a police state bereft of any privacy whatsoever?

[AlaskaErik]

Watching Tom Brokow, you can just see him chomping at the bit to erode our Constitution.

[zoyd]

Anyone else feel like we're slowly but surely being asked to turn ourselves into a police state bereft of any privacy whatsoever?

Yes.

The newsheads seem almost gleeful to announce that 'everything in America will change' because of this. They seem EAGER in anticipation of Bigger Brother. I can understand the fear of terrorism, but no one ever has to be EAGER to have their freedoms taken away, for WHATEVER reason.

[newzjunkey]

How can you stand to watch him? Ugh.

[AlaskaErik]

A little while ago I read of the FAA banning all knives from airline flights. Which makes very little sense: as a knifemaker, I've seen knives made from all kinds of material. Stone, bone, wood, ceramic materials, plastic... all can be used to fashion a blade. None of which would show up on a metal detector. This moved seems very much a knee-jerk reaction devoid of clarity of thought.

I totally agree. I worked in a maximum security prison and I've seen the shanks convicts make with next to nothing. Put 100 convicts in a 757 for 10 minutes and you'd have 100 shanks to contend with. It would be so easy for one of the states sponsoring terrorism to put a 757 in a hanger and let terrorists go through it to determine what can be used to make a shank in a few minutes. They will overcome and adapt, while in the meantime, our freedom is further eroded. The so-called "experts" are a laughable bunch. They may be book smart, but they sure as hell aren't street smart.

[AlaskaErik]

I don't have cable and SO prefers him over Dan and Peter.

[dalereed]

Our society is too "safe" in all respects today as it is, i'll take care of myself and take my chances and risk my life for time savings government or no government. I always have and always will, i'm not the property of the government.

[_Jim]

Put 100 convicts in a 757 for 10 minutes and you'd have 100 shanks to contend with.

What about .5 mm Pentel mechanical pencils? Those things have a sharp tip - and I'm sure they could be used effectively in the right hands ...

Ballpoint pens ... toothpicks!

[Smithers, ReleaseTheHounds]

heard tom daschle on tv today, being interviewed by jennings or brokaw i think, state that 'we will have to give up some of our freedoms because of this'. think again daschle, i'm not giving up any rights.

[sci]

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

My reaction to all these police-state procedures being implemented to travel by air is: Screw flying. Forget it. Drive yourself. We can retain what little freedom we have left by not being part of the tyranny being imposed on aviation.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

.....Further, the American people are going to agree with me. Watch how people react to the crackdown. They will STOP FLYING in the numbers necessary to keep airline travel viable and profitable.

[newzjunkey]

Ah...no cable. Too bad. I admit, though, ABC had some very good coverage if you could put up with Jennings snide remarks; I don't even bother with Rather. Fox was very disappointing the day of the event (better yesterday) and I can't stand John Gibson. I wanted to throttle some idiot on MSNBC last night. CNN has had a few moments.