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by fucking_tragedy 3831 days ago
If anything, the fact that China is doing it is evidence that we need to do it as well to maintain national security.
3 comments

Sure most of us disagree with what "fucking_tragedy" is saying, he doesn't offer evidence, and it stems from a weak line of reasoning. But we shouldn't bury it just because we disagree with it.

Even though I side with encryption, I think it's worth at least exploring the other side's argument.

Does access to encryption give increased capability to China in such a way that it "profits" in matters of national security / finance / etc. Or will such a move ultimately "cost" China due to the side effects of weaker technological infrastructure, privacy, etc?

Will it be a detriment to the United States (assuming current government snooping laws remain the same)?

I think the answers to these, while they can be theorized and predicted, will best be fleshed out in due time, hopefully influencing US politicians to make the right decision.

I'm glad that you're arguing with that particular interpretation of my comment in good faith. It is refreshing to see.

However, what I meant to convey is this: despite the obvious problems with such a program, the government sees value in control and centralization of the country's secure communications. If we ignore the obvious problems with "We have all the keys" & "Secure communication" and look to recent initiatives and programs with similar contradictory goals, we've been told by politicians that they were implemented because everyone else is doing it and it's necessary for national security.

I see how nonsensical this is, but if a similar program is pushed, this is how it would be pitched to the public.

I read it more generously as:

> If anything, the fact that China is doing will be evidence that we'll need to do it as well to maintain national security.

Never attribute to stupidity that which is adequately explained by cynicism?

Why?
It's the reason given to the public for having given the reins of our communication and technology infrastructure to intelligence and security agencies.

There are obvious reasons why the government would want to implement such a program, many of them having little to do with national security. Based on previous propaganda that's been fed to us over the past few years, this is the likely conclusion to be drawn.

f-ing_tragedy, unless you are deliberately going for low karma you need to be a bit less subtle with your irony.
There is no irony here. We've beefed up our security state and when asked why, the reason has been 1) Everyone else is doing it 2) National security.

I don't agree with it.