NSA Director speaks at hacker conference to 'lay out the facts' - Polidicks

[t]http://imgkk.com/i/q6se.jpg[/t] [url]http://www.zdnet.com/nsa-director-accused-of-lying-to-congress-at-black-hat-usa-2013-keynote-7000018810/[/url] [quote]When NSA Director General Keith Alexander told the attendees of Black Hat USA 2013 that, speaking as the NSA, "we stand for freedom" - a member of the audience immediately shouted, "Bullshit!" The rogue comment was received by the crowd with applause. The General acknowledged the comment and response, and moved on to continue telling the hackers and security professionals that the NSA's surveillance programs had prevented multiple terrorist attacks around the world. ... General Alexander went on to state that the NSA's programs, the very ones under fire in the press - such as Prism - were directly responsible for finding known terrorists. "This is our lawful intercept program." "We have the courts, Congress and lawmakers looking at what we do." Referring to a slide projected for the audience he continued, "This shows you we have 100% auditability on every query we make. (...) We worked with committees in Congress for a directorate of compliance." The vociferous crowd did not hesitate to talk back. One attendee shouted, "what I'm saying is that we don't trust you." Another accused the General of lying to Congress and shouted, "How do we know you're not lying to us right now?" The NSA Director told attendees of North America's leading security conference that he was at Black Hat to ask for the help of the security professionals in attendance for their help, most especially if they felt the programs were wrong. Near the talk's end, an attendee shouted that General Alexander should read the Constitution. He responded saying, "I have. You should, too." The General's retort was met with applause.[/quote] Here's his speech in full [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvVIZ4OyGnQ[/media] Skip to 5:00

Somehow, I believe a Black Hat presentation even less than I believe disclosures to Congress. The slide details what metadata is collected and what isn't. Saying "oh, we don't collect names" is irrelevant, they don't [I]need to[/I] when they have a complete relationship map of who everyone in the US talks to on the phone. And every Black Hat attendee should know that, so no wonder they were shouting shit at him.

[quote]When NSA Director General Keith Alexander told the attendees of Black Hat USA 2013 that, speaking as the NSA, "we stand for freedom" - a member of the audience immediately shouted, "Bullshit!" [/quote] I know he's the NSA director but why do people have to be so fucking obnoxious.

[quote]When NSA Director General Keith Alexander told the attendees of Black Hat USA 2013 that, speaking as the NSA, "we stand for freedom" - a member of the audience immediately shouted, "Bullshit!"[/quote] I was going to ask if someone was going to so that. :v:

I'm glad he's at least looking to improve.

Its only Pen-Registers, not Title III like everyone thinks.

I just wish there was less of a bandwagon and more of a rational, civilized debate regarding this whole ordeal. Right now it's just two sides antagonizing each other.

[quote]Near the talk's end, an attendee shouted that General Alexander should read the Constitution. He responded saying, "I have. You should, too." The General's retort was met with applause.[/quote] Great comeback

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;41667872]I know he's the NSA director but why do people have to be so fucking obnoxious.[/QUOTE] Freedom? ...more like... not freedom!!!

If what the NSA was doing was so great and legal why did it take a whistleblower to bring it forward? I don't have time to watch the video so maybe he answered that.

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;41667872]I know he's the NSA director but why do people have to be so fucking obnoxious.[/QUOTE] Yes, he's the obnoxious one. It's not like interrupting a presentation with your opinions isn't obnoxious or rude.

[QUOTE=Scot;41668490]If what the NSA was doing was so great and legal why did it take a whistleblower to bring it forward? I don't have time to watch the video so maybe he answered that.[/QUOTE] Because it was classified?

[QUOTE=Mingebox;41668525]Because it was classified?[/QUOTE] BecEAUSE WE HiDED IT!!!

[QUOTE=KillerJaguar;41668510]Yes, he's the obnoxious one. It's not like interrupting a presentation with your opinions isn't obnoxious or rude.[/QUOTE] His post is being misinterpreted. From how I read it, he's saying that he recognizes that he's the disliked NSA director, but questions why people use that as some bad excuse to be obnoxious assholes. You basically just restated what he posted.

[QUOTE=Scot;41668490]If what the NSA was doing was so great and legal why did it take a whistleblower to bring it forward? I don't have time to watch the video so maybe he answered that.[/QUOTE]Because you don't tell everyone your intelligence gathering techniques even if they're legal. This is like basic logic.

[QUOTE=Kaabii;41668559]His post is being misinterpreted. From how I read it, he's saying that he recognizes that he's the disliked NSA director, but questions why people use that as some bad excuse to be obnoxious assholes. You basically just restated what he posted.[/QUOTE] Oh, my bad.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;41668585]Because you don't tell everyone your intelligence gathering techniques even if they're legal. This is like basic logic.[/QUOTE] So spying on everyone in the US and abroad is okay because nobody has to know about it?

[QUOTE=zombojoe;41668615]So spying on everyone in the US and abroad is okay because nobody has to know about it?[/QUOTE]Are you familiar with the concept of a Straw Man argument?

[QUOTE=zombojoe;41668615]So spying on everyone in the US and abroad is okay because nobody has to know about it?[/QUOTE] because they arent spying on everyone in the US and abroad..?

Government is directly accountable to the people. Gen Keith Alexander should have given this presentation on live national television because the people are clearly concerned about our counter-terror efforts.

[QUOTE=Kaabii;41668559]His post is being misinterpreted. From how I read it, he's saying that he recognizes that he's the disliked NSA director, but questions why people use that as some bad excuse to be obnoxious assholes. You basically just restated what he posted.[/QUOTE] Yeah. Probably should have worded it better.

[QUOTE=Scot;41668490]If what the NSA was doing was so great and legal why did it take a whistleblower to bring it forward? I don't have time to watch the video so maybe he answered that.[/QUOTE] Because it's classified. It's still classified because the government doesn't share it's secrets to enemies. Congressman are given classified information to do their job but the citizens are not entitled to national secrets. These programs are proven legal.

Wow. 1 fucking minute in and he gives the "t-terrorists!!" argument. Yeah sure, fucking terrorism is totally a reason to monitor everyone.

[QUOTE=weedscopes;41669538] Yeah sure, fucking terrorism is totally a reason to monitor everyone.[/QUOTE] It is a reason. A good reason? Maybe not. But it is a reason.

[QUOTE=Riller;41669593]It is a reason. A good reason? Maybe not. But it is a reason.[/QUOTE] Oh yeah sorry, I meant to say that :v:

[QUOTE=weedscopes;41669538]Wow. 1 fucking minute in and he gives the "t-terrorists!!" argument. Yeah sure, fucking terrorism is totally a reason to monitor everyone.[/QUOTE] 50 years ago we would be monitoring people because of communists and 100 years ago because of anarchists.

At least he takes criticism well.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;41670428]At least he takes criticism well.[/QUOTE] Not on screen: Obnoxious people being carried away by NSA agents, never to be seen again.

Better to give him attitude rather than sit and take it like the majority of everyone else. These are the guys going into the net. sec industry, and they should be allowed to voice their opinions of what they think of the old guard.

What the fuck, Facepunch? I thought we were against the massive, warrantless surveillance of millions of innocent people? "B-but it prevents terrorist attacks" so fucking what? Terrorism in western nations kills less people than fucking bath tubs. If your only concern is protection from terrorists, why don't we install security cameras in every residence? No more terrorism, I guarantee it. "But that's a slippery slope fallacy", bullshit, it's not a fallacy when we've been progressively sliding down it for decades while showing no signs of slowing down.