We are being conned and distracted by the metadata retention issue. It seems they already have all the metadata and content they want. Thanks to Snowden we have evidence of this. I have been going through the information that Snowden exposed here.
There are clear descriptions of the programs that allow spooks to monitor and interfere with our use of the internet and other communications. Click here ..
There is a long list of programs available to spooks that collect our data – not just metadata. Most of them don’t mean much to me but the ones that describe things I have experienced, ever since the internet came to Australia, do. That is programs that disable online accounts, change online statistics, interfere with use of phones, disrupt computers, disrupt use of email, run executables on targets machines, alter websites etc. And one that I haven’t experienced but others have mentioned – spoof any email address and send email under that identity.
Jed Stuart, NSW