The Fight for Privacy

Data privacy day falls at the end of January. 

• Data Privacy Day – January 28

But of late, it would seem all of February is data-privacy day as the debate with Apple thickens. I've been following the opinions of real people on this on Quora here. While the FBI would prefer to have a back door into all devices, since Edward Snowden's movement, the debate has gone public. 

• Read about this on Medium. 
• Read about this on LinkedIn. 

It seems as if now, March 1st, 2016; Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon will now support Apple in court in its fight with the FBI.

Reality is not what it Seems

It's highly likely the FBI can hack any encryption out there (if ordinary hackers can do it, why wouldn't they be able to?). Until the arrival of Quantum computing, we have to assume data privacy, is a myth. 

But the public debacle is entertaining, is it not?

Are we to believe that this is a legist discussion, of how Silicon valley companies, who have an amazing record of cooperation with the NSA, now suddenly care greatly concerned about the privacy of our data?

We do, if we believe everything the mainstream media (MSM) tells us. But this is America, a society basically governed by the financial elite. Where it's clear government, special interests groups and intelligence agencies can do what they like. 

Google, Facebook and Twitter are planning to file legal briefs in court to support Apple in the coming days, individuals close to each company confirmed to on Thursday.

So suddenly, I'm to believe that Apple and these tech companies are my heroes? This amounts to a public corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign. It's always about trying to read between the lines about how legit they are, are they genuine, or is it a show and play. 

The Show of Heroes 

Microsoft's chief legal counsel informed Congress earlier in the day that his company will file an amicus brief to support Apple "next week." I am really so naive to believe that Apple are not chummy with the FBI? Or that the grounds of the argument have any rational merit for a sweeping change?

This is controversial debate, but I'd even argue, is it staged or is it real? It makes little sense from the facts we are given. So now I'm to assume, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, the founders of Microsoft and Facebook, respectively, released waffling statements of their own, while Microsoft proper chose to let an independent advocacy group speak on its behalf. That these mates have my best interests at heart?

An Age of Corporate Social Campaigns 

Is this how PR is going? We pretend we care, we promise action, and the government is pulling the wool over our eyes, to get its own agenda legislated? Does public opinion even matter anymore? Did Snowden really change the world or is it all a posturing of fake stories that have no bearing on the true digital reality. 

How is this debate even taking place, because of terrorism? I think data security and cyber security is a lot more important with wide ranging implications on the future of data to be tangled with political, electoral and social issues. More people are killed by mass shootings by Americans on Americans, than by so called terrorists. Show me legislation that deals with people gunned down by police. 

Listen to the People, Not Necessarily the News

Twitter is revealing, it even has a hashtag #ApplevsFBI, let's curate some of these tweets to illustrate this: 

• What becomes clear, is this a debate on encryption and high-level protection of individual's right to privacy vs. the state. 

• #Cybersecurity is a Millennial issue, it's hard to imagine people not knowledgeable about the topic, could make a balanced decision that will influence the future of #datasecurity as a whole. 

What do you think about this? Is the era of personal privacy really over...

This post is solely representative of the fleeting views of the author and in no way is representative of any affiliate companies, organizations or external agendas.