Observation by State

I am living in Austria and currently there is a discussion about how to observe the internet-traffic. This is more interesting for Germans and Austrians, because we all know the problem of a “Bundes-Trojaner”.

Several engineers from different Austrian companys and the interior ministry are discussing about technical solutions for observing internet traffic. Last year they discussed a so called “Bundes-Trojaner”. This is a virus written for observing criminal citizens. They want them, because they think they aren’t able to observe Skype (For sure, could be tricky, but nothing is impossible).

Main argument was, the new security dangers force us to do something against it. This means, translated for the stupid ones.

“Osama is using VOIP for command new attacks”.

What an absolut dumb argument. I could not even say how angry i am, when i hear something like this from responsible politicans. Let’s have a look at our security issues.

There is a bit of a mixed culture in the bigger citys, but not as heavy as f.e. in Berlin, Germany. This fact bring us some conflicts from time to time, but there are no “real” or big problems. So, Austria is also a very small country, there is no strategic interest (except finanical) on us. We are in the middle of a bunch of states, called the European Union. We have neighboures with big armed forces, but they are friends, not enemys. So, why we should observe everyone’s web-traffic.

WHY?

Maybe someone think, i am a potential terrorist, that will bomb the Houses of Parliament next year, so they should observe how i prepare for this. For sure, they should also observe my web-traffic. I will use my standard-net-connection at home for getting some information on how to build a bomb.

First step is to use Google-Earth to find out how i could enter the building. Then i am going to hack the computers of the energy-companies for shut down the electricity (Maybe they have an open web-service-API for this, so i do not need to hack it.)

Oh, sorry.. forgotten somethinkg.

I will use YouTube to generate a video-stream for the observation cameras, so the watchman, watching them, does not recognize me.

Then, i will search on FlickR for getting some plans of the building, to know where is the best place for placing the bomb.

Finally, i will write a new SSL-based protocol, encrypt it with an own-styled method and tell my complices when we will start and how we do it.

So, Mr. home secretary and friends, you will never know more, than i let you know, but i am not a criminal, so maybe the “real” criminals have better ideas, than i have.

Ask yourself: Why, to reduce the freedom of Miilions, for hoping that you are able to prevent crime that will never happen?

Ps.: If you, what i think, want to know who is downloading illegal MP3’s, movies and other so called “copyright” content from P2P-networks, than you should better have a look at the consequences than the money from your lobbyist.

Never mind what others says, copying a MP3 is still the same than crossing the street if lights are red. It could hurt, but it shouldn’t at 99%.