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<title>Surveillance Testimony - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> |
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<div class="article reduced-width"> |
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<h2>Surveillance Testimony</h2> |
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<p>Richard Stallman's statement to the Cambridge City Council, Jan 22, 2018, |
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about the proposed Cambridge surveillance ordinance.</p> |
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<hr class="thin" /> |
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<p><strong>Mayor McGovern:</strong> Thank you. Richard Stallman followed by Elaine DeRosa.</p> |
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<p><strong>RMS:</strong> I'm here to speak about the proposed surveillance ordinance. |
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I've got a copy of what I printed out, and I have some suggestions.</p> |
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<p>First of all there's a Definition of “surveillance” which I think is |
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too narrow. In addition to “movements, behavior and actions,” it |
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should include communications.</p> |
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<p>Furthermore, instead of just saying “in a matter that is reasonably |
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likely to raise concerns,” any recording of what is observed should be |
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assumed to raise civil liberties concerns.</p> |
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<p>There's also a definition of “surveillance technology,” which I think is |
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far too limited.</p> |
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<p>I suggest that any physical device or system including computers running |
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software that has surveillance capability is surveillance technology. |
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Any technology that can do surveillance is surveillance technology.</p> |
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<p>The definition of “surveillance capability” I think is pretty good.</p> |
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<p>In addition, when it comes to what to do about surveillance |
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technology, the Emergency Permission seems far too loose. It would be |
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easy to interpret this such that one could decide there's nowadays |
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some sort of threat, and there always will be [that threat], so |
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surveillance is permitted on an emergency basis forever.</p> |
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<p>Well, that's the kind of false emergency that we shouldn't accept. |
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This requirement should be specific and clear enough that that can't |
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pass under it.</p> |
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<p>I suggest treating it like a wiretap or searching people's houses.</p> |
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<p>Now there are times when it's possible to search someone's house |
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urgently. That's permitted. But in general you have to get a court |
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order [to do a search].</p> |
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<p>And I think that same requirement should apply to any kind of surveillance |
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that hasn't gone through the regular process.</p> |
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<p>[Item] number 9 talks about “persons injured in violation of the Ordinance,” |
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but I don't think there's a definition of what it means to be injured.</p> |
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<p>I'd like to suggest that to be surveilled is to be injured.</p> |
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<p>Thank you.</p> |
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<p>Copyright © 2018, 2021 Richard Stallman</p> |
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<p class="unprintable">Updated: |
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$Date: 2021/10/01 10:44:35 $ |
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