| From my limited perspective, the U.S. is continuing to transition more fully to "rubber hose" policing, for lack of a better term. If they decide you are a problem for any reason or decide to put you in their sites, perhaps for their own political agenda, you will face an overwhelming range of charges and immediate legal expenses. The goal isn't truth; the goal is to break you and so further their agenda. I'm not saying there isn't legitimate law enforcement occurring within the mix. But, in terms of the overall picture as opposed to court etiquette itself, "benefit of the doubt" seems to have long since gone out the window. Now imagine being a foreigner, away from family and local support networks, and not knowing whether you've landed on some very political person's list (and prosecutors in the U.S. are very political creatures). Imagine you work in an area engendering much controversy, such as computer systems security. And finally, take it a step further, even sitting home or traveling in e.g. Europe: Just how far and pervasive are the FBI et al. willing to reach with politically aided extradition requests? Political forces in the U.S. want to "stop" "cybercrime" by physically insisting that people they don't like "stop" doing those things. Not a technical solution. Not improving systems and systems management. Nope, get out the rubber hose. And wield it based upon political calculation, more so than actual, (legally) substantiated fact. |