AT&T billing site makes jokes about company's participation in warrantless wiretapping?

[DogPoundPup]

Reid sez, "I, unfortunately, have an AT&T cell phone. I check my bill every few weeks. Today, I went to log in, and was greeted by a terrific new advertisement for their online billing system. It's as if their marketing department thinks that warrantless wiretapping is funny or something. "
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/06/27/att-billing-site-mak.html

[drmeow]

1. It is an attempt

to normalize warrantless wiretapping and to reinforce the myth/invalid justification that "innocent people have nothing to hide." I'd call this "ad" a calculated political move.

[readmoreoften]

2. I thought it was a joke. But it's real. Complete with "Online Liberation Movement" videos and a logo

Well at least they have a sense of humor about us.

It doesn't even make sense. "Ms. Suspicious has nothing to hide. Well, she has a little to hide, but her love of online billing isn't one of them." Huh???

I mean, that last sentence isn't even close to making grammatical sense:

"she has a little to hide, but her love of online billing isn't one of them"

One of what?

Did a freeper write this?

[GregD]

3. I have a different perspective on this. Your thoughts?

I build web stores for a living, shop online regularly, and my only recurring bills that don't get paid electronically are those where such a method is unavailable from the vendor/merchant.

However, my brother refuses to shop online, and won't set up online banking relationships where his bills get paid automatically. It's because he is paranoid about identity theft, and not because he thinks that vendors are spying on him. He worries that a hacker will somehow get his information and ruin him. It's my opinion from the work that I do that there is a large segment of our population who feels this way.

So I think this ad is targeted at the consumer who is wary of this new electronic world, and how regular transactions are shifted from mailing a check to an outomated transfer of bits and bytes.

Anyone agree?

[wtmusic]

6. "nothing to hide" is the key phrase

This is a deliberate reference to telecom immunity. Memo: Reinforce meme of "Weirdo liberal wackos going over the edge."

[progressoid]

7. I gotta agree with you.

I think it's aimed at those that fear identity theft, not spying. I know someone that refuses to put an online shopping on his website because he's afraid of all the perils of ID theft.

[XOKCowboy]

9. Yep

I agree that it might "appear" to be gloating to someone who hates AT&T for their past billing practices and now domestic spying (such as myself) but it's obviously aimed at those suspicious about online billing.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Can't it be both? n/t

[lpbk2713]

4. "Pay no AT&Tention to that man behind the curtain."

:eyes:

[leftofthedial]

5. I'm virtually certain you are right about the creation of the ad

but what an author intended is irrelevant. the only thing that matters is what the reader understands. I understand this to be sick gloating over their immunity (granted by bribed politicians) from committing serious crimes.

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. Interesting concept

So, a fundie reading Dickens who interprets "Please, sir, I want some more" as pro-NAMBLA propaganda is correct?



:popcorn:

[leftofthedial]

15. then. there. there is no other possible meaning.

the work exists only in the head of the reader.

I'm not saying it's good or it's correct. But it's what exists.

[anigbrowl]

11. Oh dear...

Good luck with that extreme solipsist viewpoint.

[TalkingDog]

13. Maybe a less....inflammatory way to phrase it might be:

Communication is the response you get.

They have failed to communicate their intent and/or content clearly, so the "listener/reader" is left to interpret, perhaps wrongly, intended meaning.

[angstlessk]

12. If you don't have nothing to hide you don't need immunity, either!!! n/t

[wtmusic]

16. Excellent observation. nt

[TheWatcher]

14. They are really shoving it in our faces aren't they?

It's called Conditioning. They are merely getting the Rabble to accept this as Normal, while taking a sick poke at those who don't live in the Matrix, as if to say "What The Fuck Are YOU Going To Do About It?"

Orwell was more of a Prophet than he could have ever known.

He just had the year wrong.

[spanone]

17. when you have immunity you can fling poo in the 'little peoples' faces

[pacalo]

18. AT&T received a $292 million "award" from Homeland Security...

Press Release - May 15, 2008

For more information, contact:
Alex Kepnes
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

AT&T WINS AWARD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR ADVANCED NETWORKING SOLUTION

AT&T Receives $292 Million Award Via Networx Universal Contract to Help Build Data Network Solution

VIENNA, Va., May 15, 2008 — AT&T Government Solutions, a business unit of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), has announced that it has won a $292 million award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

AT&T Government Solutions, which has 4,000 employees dedicated to serving the federal government, will serve as the secondary network service provider in the Eastern region as well as for the Western region for OneNet, an advanced, next-generation network. OneNet will consolidate seven legacy Wide Area Networks (WANs) into one secure Internet Protocol (IP) network infrastructure that will facilitate the future convergence of IP and wireless while driving data sharing across all components of DHS.

The award was made via the General Services Administration Networx Universal contract, a 10-year $20 billion contract vehicle that allows AT&T Government Solutions and others to provide a full range of telecommunications and related network services to the federal government.

“The Department of Homeland Security is tasked with the critical mission of leading the unified national effort to protect our country from a wide variety of constantly changing threats,” said Don Herring, senior vice president, AT&T Government Solutions. “AT&T looks forward to serving DHS as a trusted long-term transformational provider for OneNet.”

AT&T currently provides a wide array of voice and data services to DHS agencies, such as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration and others.

http://www.corp.att.com/gov/newsevents/press_releases/press_release_05_14_08.html