Wired News: Why We Published the AT&T Docs

[kevinhnc]

"A file detailing aspects of AT&T's alleged participation in the National Security Agency's warrantless domestic wiretap operation is sitting in a San Francisco courthouse. But the public cannot see it because, at AT&T's insistence, it remains under seal in court records.

AT&T claims information in the file is proprietary and that it would suffer severe harm if it were released.

Based on what we've seen, Wired News disagrees. In addition, we believe the public's right to know the full facts in this case outweighs AT&T's claims to secrecy.

As a result, we are publishing the complete text of a set of documents from the EFF's primary witness in the case, former AT&T employee and whistle-blower Mark Klein -- information obtained by investigative reporter Ryan Singel through an anonymous source close to the litigation. The documents, available on Wired News as of Monday, consist of 30 pages, with an affidavit attributed to Klein, eight pages of AT&T documents marked "proprietary," and several pages of news clippings and other public information related to government-surveillance issues."

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70947-0.html?tw=wn_technology_1

Note the link in the article to the documents is bad, here is a working link: http://blog.wired.com/27BStroke6/att_klein_wired.pdf

[formercia]

1. Internet Superhighway Roadkill Award of the Day

Heir komt Groot kak.:evilgrin:

So much for government secrecy.......

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. No, so much for BS government

secerecy.

[KansDem]

33. BS="Bush Secrets"

And "Bush Secrets" = BS

[habitual]

2. downloaded and saved in many locations!!!!

NICE!

[shadowknows69]

5. Way to go Wired News

"we believe the public's right to know the full facts in this case outweighs AT&T's claims to secrecy."

That's called Journalism. The MSM should take note of this courage because I guarantee this may bite Wired in the ass. Bravo Wired News.

[redqueen]

41. And SHAME on the courts who back corporatists usurping our democracy!

Those judges should be impeached!

[UpInArms]

4. thank you for this post!

downloaded and saved -

k&r!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. Not so fast!

[AngryAmish]

6. Are there any intellectual property/trade secret lawyers out there?

I wonder if the public's right to know trumps a trade secret. For example, I very much would be interested in the exact recipe for Classic Coke. If someone publishes it would they be liable for disclosing a trade secret? What if Pepsi publishes it?

The Coke v. AT&T is apples and oranges (because of the subject matter). But what about that?

[kevinhnc]

7. I think so

I'm no expert, but I believe that publishing proprietary information such as trade secrets like that can make one liable for damages if the company sued, which is why Wired had these documents checked out first.

[DBoon]

17. It can be a federal felony

not just damages but jail time

The Economic Espionage Act of 1996 established this

[shadowknows69]

19. gotta protect those corporations

n/t

[EFerrari]

23. And they're screwing with a Federal judge. They don't take

kindly to that. I hope WN has some back up.

[Zodiak]

39. The year of the legislation

is not lost on me. So much of tody's problems stem from legislation passed on the late 90's when everyone was worshipping CEOs.

[shadowknows69]

9. Reporters should be exempt from that.

If Reporter A discovers the secret ingredient in Soylent Green is people then he should have the right to expose that to the public. Yes he is telling trade secrets and indirectly helping the coffers of "people free" Soylent Blue but that is a power that used to be afforded the press. It was in fact their main power which is now effectively being neutered with talks of legislation against reporters that print leaks.

[The Stranger]

10. If the exact recipe for Classic Coke were the result of ILLEGALITY/FRAUD,

then there would be no protections afforded by any court.

[shadowknows69]

12. Aren't their laws in place requiring food manufacturers

to list there ingredients? Does Coke actually have any legal basis for holding onto a "Secret" Recipe?

[kevinhnc]

14. I think they just need to list them as...

"natural and/or artificial flavors" on the label.

[shadowknows69]

15. Well that needs to change

I could piss in a bottle and call it "Natural flavor"

[KansDem]

34. Hey! You've taken my idea!

I was going to mass market such a drink. I was going to call it "Choke."

But it too was also going to be labeled as "natural flavor..."

[shadowknows69]

37. We can be partners

besides we can fill more bottles with two of us ;)

[cascadiance]

24. We REALLY already lost Classic Coke back in the 70's...

When Coca Cola and most other soft drink manufacturers went on the cheap on us and started using HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) instead of Cane sugar that is producing an epidemic of diabetes for the newer generation that grew up with it. Of course unless you buy your supply of Coke by getting "Kosher" Coca Cola on Passover, or are able to find imported Coca Cola from Mexico, the old days of Classic Coke are gone!

[TechBear_Seattle]

16. If the recipe for Classic Coke were a threat to the public and our rights

Then yes, the exact recipe for Classic Coke becomes part of the public's right to know. In that light, the Coke v. AT&T comparison is quite valid: AT&T's actions (and similar actions by Veriozon, MCI, Sprint, etc.) are most definitely a threat to the public's constitutional rights and guaranteed protections.

[cascadiance]

25. HFCS is strongly suspected in causing diabetes now...

and therefore IS a threat to the public I think, though it may be a slow moving threat.

[mccoyn]

32. HFCS isn't a secret ingredient of Coke -nt

[cascadiance]

43. But if they're that negligent about people's health with public...

... ingredients (in addition to being linked to diabetes, HFCS makes a food more "addictive" too (aka less satisfying/thirst quenching, leading to overconsumption), I wonder if there might not be some secret ingredient portion that is also just as damaging (or being changed).

[The Stranger]

8. We need to set up mirror sites -- AT&T will go after Wired News.

DISSEMINATE. DISSEMINATE. DISSEMINATE.

[shadowknows69]

11. The government will probably go after Wired News

If they keep on this "any dealings with the NSA is classified" BS. They could deem wired guilty of leaking classified information dealing with National Security and then the sky's the limit.

[kevinhnc]

13. There are a lot of people on Digg.com setting up mirror sites...

You can find them here...

http://www.digg.com/technology/Wired_News_leaks_FULL_AT_T_NSA_documents_

[On the Road]

18. Are There Two Separate Programs at Work Here?

The USA Today story, as I understood it, focused on telephone call detail. This article describes monitoring internet activity.

Sometimes the two seem to be discussed as part of the same issue -- I've done that myself at times -- but there seem to be two very different types of data being snooped on.

So are there two spying programs?

[QuettaKid]

20. satellite photo of "secret" ATT listening post.

just trust me on this one. underground facility in the middle of lots and lots of empty woods, real close to Chapel Hill, NC. Google: Big Hole Chatham County.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Gakona,+AK&ll=35.78268,-79.074735&spn=0.004004,0.010793&t=k&om=0

[NoodleyAppendage]

26. HOLY SH*T!!! I live in the subdivision just North! Pittsboro, NC.

I'm going to have to investigate. I live in Fearrington Village, which is a tiny subdivision literally .25 miles North of whatever that is on the map (Pittsboro, NC. 27312-8500). I've never seen any signs or otherwise to denote something of that sort around our neighborhood.

BTW - just outside of Sanford, NC. on US 15-501 there is a heavily guarded "vaccine" facility that is locked down like Fort Knox and has biohazard signs all over the place.

J

[QuettaKid]

29. You live in Fearrington?

leaving the village, take a left on 15-501. Go to the next road which is Mt. Gilead Church Road. Turn left....it's about 2 minutes down on your left...it says Big Hole Road. Private Road.

[NoodleyAppendage]

31. Yep. Fearrington Village. I wonder how many neighbors work there.

This is VERY CREEPY information to learn. Now, in addition to the nuclear facility about 3mi. away, I can add a DOD facility to the mix. The Sanford "vaccine" facility still worries me the most given the prospect of any accident test animal releases.

J

[Dunvegan]

27. The Big Hole facility is AT&T's Automatic Voice Network (AUTOVON)

At least, is is ostensibly known as such in unclassified knowledge.

It was the Defense Switching Network, which has upgraded from switching to digital (packed switched) communications under AUTOVON.

More here: http://www.tpub.com/content/istts/14226/css/14226_31.htm

[rumpel]

42. Question.

Do you think, they are required to keep an official record, when and for what reason this would be used?

[NoodleyAppendage]

22. Narus Semantic Traffic Analyzer = DEATH OF FREE INTERNET

I wouldn't be surprised if this technology was in play on Chinese pipelines. Narus MUST BE STOPPED OR CONTROLLED. This is serious shit, people!!!

J

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dunvegan]

30. The DoD is strict about rejecting software/network appliances with Israeli

...provenence.

Having worked a number of DISA consults for an network/enterprise SW/HW company, I know how the .mil feels about software/hardware appliances from Israel (i.e. Check Point firewalls, et. al.)

They don't use them at the highest or more secure levels.

They cannot use any software that you don't give them the source code for, and Israli Check Point has not been forthcoming with their firewall source code, therefore the DoD cannot assure themselves there is no "back door" in CP firewalls...ergo, no use in secure environments.

Anyone know if Narus has given the .mil or feds their source code for vetting?

Seems like they must have if it's in use for elint (electronic intellegence.)

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ian David]

35. Wired just earned-back some of their credibility...

that they lost after they said that Al Gore claimed to have invented The Internet.

[havocmom]

38. .

.

[rumpel]

40. Very interesting, thanks for the post. btw, wired is not bound by gag

order, neither is Klein, the article says.

I hope that argument holds up for them and everyone.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

44. Isn't there a precedent?

I believe it's something along the lines of a(n alleged) reporter outing a covert CIA agent (highly classified information) and not getting into trouble for it...

[Peter Frank]

45. K...

:kick: