Secretive Internet ‘Kill Switch’ And Apple Patent Could Stop You From Filming Police & Protests
The Supreme Court refused to force the Department of Homeland Security to reveal further details of its program to shut off internet access during ‘emergencies’ despite the concerns this poses for freedom of speech.
AUSTIN, Texas — As smartphones revolutionize how people interact with breaking
news, internet freedom advocates are warning that “kill switch” technology could
shut down this newfound form of expression during times of civil unrest.
protests and renewed a nationwide discussion over the importance of
Castille’s fiancee, at gunpoint while she filmed the aftermath of the shooting, and
police after filming.
But perhaps even more worrisome than police targeting individuals for filming is
the idea that the technology which allows witnesses to film and share incidents of
brutality could be remotely disabled to stem dissent.
The Department of Homeland Security has a secretive procedure in place to de-activate
internet access in the event of an emergency, popularly known as an “internet kill switch.”
through open records requests were rebuffed first by DHS, then by the Supreme Court,
which declined to hear EPIC’s lawsuit in January. The NGO still managed to obtain a
Coordinating Center for Telecommunications to disrupt internet and cellular access
during emergencies at the request of a federal, state or local law enforcement agency.
“The American people are (once again) left in the dark regarding the inner-workings of
January for the Anti-Media. He continued:
“It is only through the hard work of activists and groups like EPIC that we are at
least aware of the existence of this program — but knowing bits and pieces about
the protocol is not enough. In order to combat such heavy-handed measures, we
need to have access to the government’s own documents. Hopefully, there
is already a whistleblower preparing to release these details.”
That a kill switch could be used during times of unrest is not a purely theoretical
proposition. On Aug. 11, 2011, cellular service was shut down throughout
month, designed toprevent iPhones and other Apple devices from filming at
music concerts. But activists and privacy advocates fear the technology won’t be
limited to music venues and could easily be abused by police.
Great patent granted to Apple. Won’t be abused/used against citizens, notta chance. bit.ly/29tHj0s Love innocent-looking schematic.
“There are definitely situations where the impulse to use this type of technology
would be understandable, like performances where artists/backers/venues are
people hold powerful entities accountable for wrongdoing, and it might be tempting
for institutions to use this technology to combat transparency.”
Newman noted that the technology remains purely hypothetical, but cautioned that “this
patent could give other people ideas.”
patent could give other people ideas.”
ripe for abuse. He concluded:
“Real-time recording of police transgressions, social media posts that bypass
oppressive regimes — these are revolutionary, disruptive technologies.
It should come as no surprise the entrenched powers of both dictatorships
and democracies are looking for ways to restrict the use of tools that expose
government tyranny.”
A gonzo journalist from Austin, Texas and Staff Writer for MintPress
News, Kit O'Connell's writing has also appeared at Truthout, the
Texas Observer, and The Establishment.
http://www.mintpressnews.com/secretive-internet-kill-switch-apple-patent-stop-activists-filming-police-protests/218383/
posted by Satish Sharma at
16:17
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