The surveillance state, and the TOR Network

**Colin** · Posted On: 8/29/2012 11:58pm

If you don't know much about the TOR network, either do a bit of googling, or watch this video:

Now, what I wanted to talk about essentially is get a general feel from the Bullshitizens, about whether they
- do or don't use TOR
- would be willing to, either now or later due to differing circumstance
- are concerned about the centralization of social communication (facebook, twitter etc)

There are other embedded issues here, and I'm hoping they will come out in conversation.

**W. Rabbit** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 12:02am

Hey Colin....

We should talk about this over TOR, imho.

Of course governments try to block TOR. They try to block porn and gambling too.

The level of information freedom in a society is proportional to the diversity of content allowed to flow across it. Iran and China blocking traffic should not really surprise anyone....still the presentation was enlightening.

**Mr. Machette** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 12:29am

Web anonymity asside, I'm a believer if it can stop google and facebook from spamming me with adds tailored to my last three search entries. Stupid future...

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 12:48am

Originally Posted by Mr. Machette

Web anonymity asside, I'm a believer if it can stop google and facebook from spamming me with adds tailored to my last three search entries. Stupid future...

I can't speak for Facebook, but: http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/plugin/

**Colin** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 1:22am

Right, there are certainly ways to set up personal ad and search preferences, but I'm hoping that this discussion can take us to issues like censorship and surveillance, most prominently, that censorship of any kind actually requires surveillance, as there is no way to block any particular port, protocol, or IP without observing ALL of them.

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 3:14am

If and when they pass the "Snooping bill" over here I will seriously consider moving over to TOR.

I have looked at it in the past, but chose to go with the "security through obscurity" approach, simply because it is/can be epicly slow.

I personally find Facebook and Twitter to be very useful, largely because 99% of my friends and family are 12 hours away by plane.

I don't think centralizing social communication is necessarily a bad thing in itself, one needs to remember the golden rule however: Never post anything online that could affect your future political career.

Colin, are you a member of the Pirate Party?

**Tom .C** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 7:57am

Originally Posted by Colin

If you don't know much about the TOR network, either do a bit of googling, or watch this video:

Now, what I wanted to talk about essentially is get a general feel from the Bullshitizens, about whether they
- do or don't use TOR
- would be willing to, either now or later due to differing circumstance
- are concerned about the centralization of social communication (facebook, twitter etc)

There are other embedded issues here, and I'm hoping they will come out in conversation.

I had never heard of this before. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

**Colin** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 8:42am

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

If and when they pass the "Snooping bill" over here I will seriously consider moving over to TOR.

They did! :( It's called the patriot act.

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Colin, are you a member of the Pirate Party?

No, but I do have friends that are.

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 8/30/2012 8:48am

Originally Posted by Colin

They did! :( It's called the patriot act.

No, but I do have friends that are.

I meant this thing specifically: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/...nications-bill, although I guess you're right about the patriot act seeing as the US seems to be able to randomly extradite anyone it feels like lately.

If I had income to devote to any political party I'd join the Pirate Party, as it stands they have my moral support.