Coyne Tibbets’s Techdirt Profile

On the post: New Mexico Legislators Sue City For Refusing To Follow New Asset Forfeiture Law

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 08 Dec, 2015 @ 08:34pm

Spineless

Some great ideas here. Unfortunately, it seems there isn't a legislature anywhere in the western hemisphere that has the spine to reign in their police states.

On the post: The FCC's Issuing More Fines Than Ever, But Taking Heat For Not Collecting Them

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 03 Dec, 2015 @ 08:25pm

Wink wink nudge nudge

So I'm gonna have to issue a little fine against ya, know what I mean, know what I mean? [wink, wink, nudge, nudge]

But then, we'll say no more about it, say no more. Get it? Know what I mean, know what I mean? [wink, wink, nudge, nudge]

And I bet you'll still be enjoying those subsidies, won't you, won't you? Know what I mean, know what I mean? [wink, wink, nudge, nudge]

On the post: IRS Looking To Purchase Another Stingray; Promises To Start Obtaining Warrants

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 03 Dec, 2015 @ 06:42pm

IRS Promises To Start Obtaining Warrants

"It's definitely in our next millennium plan. Unless there's a delay."

On the post: NY Governor Announces App Version Of State's 'See Something, Say Something' Program

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 03 Dec, 2015 @ 06:38pm

Permissions: What, you worry?

So I couldn't find a download for it (for Android). But if I could, I'm guessing the permissions needed would be something like this:

* Determine your exact location
* Determine your network state
* Monitor and change your WIFI state
* Access and modify your accounts
* Create, listen to, and delete your voicemail
* Monitor battery state
* Initiate, monitor and terminate phone calls
* Create, read, and delete text messages
* Listen via your microphone
* View via your camera
* Monitor VPN connections
* Monitor Bluetooth
* Monitor body sensors
* Install, remove, and administer applications
* Read, create or modify all your accounts
* Monitor your tasks, initiate new tasks, terminate any task
* Read and update your calendar
* Record audio and/or video
* Download, upload and change, or remove fingerprints
* Read and/or update your external storage
* Device administration

But it's not like that list should concern you: what, you worry?

On the post: What Did The UK Accomplish In Revoking The Right To Rip CDs After Just One Year… Other Than Greater Disrespect For Copyright?

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 02 Dec, 2015 @ 08:01pm

Record labels will seek to ban the tech

"...no one actually thinks the record labels are now going to sue individuals for ripping CDs, because that would be ludicrous."

That's true, so the record labels won't do that. Instead, they will seek bans on all technology that can be used to rip a CD. Wait for it...

On the post: The NSA's Bulk Collection Of Phone Records Ended Saturday. Long Live The Bulk Collection Of Phone Records!

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2015 @ 02:29pm

"as long as there was an older counterterrorism investigation still open, the court could keep issuing Section 215 orders to phone companies indefinitely for that investigation."

...and since the previous Section 215 had a counterterrorism investigation open that just happened to cover everyone on the planet, well, long live the investigation. The reasoning supporting the investigation might be perverse but, hey, a bootstrap is a bootstrap--and any bootstrap in a storm.

On the post: The Anonymous Assault On ISIS Is Hurting More Than It's Helping

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 25 Nov, 2015 @ 05:59am

Indiscriminate, misinformed hysteria

Almost every action taken or proposed by government since 9/11 fits the description, "...indiscriminate, misinformed hysteria...".

On the post: Documents: The Domestic Email Collection Program The NSA 'Killed' In 2011 Was Actually Just Offshored

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 23 Nov, 2015 @ 02:56pm

The most dangerous enemy

Foreign terrorists are not NSA's primary concern. Oh, maybe they watch them, too; just for giggles.

But all of their legal efforts, all of the laws they've sought, all their reinterpretations of the law that exists, all of the arguments they've made, their strategies for concealing their data sources, and now their outsourcing of data collection to other countries; these all demonstrate the same thing: the NSA's primary concern is U. S. citizens. Ordinary, everyday, U. S. citizens.

I think NSA doesn't care about foreign nationals, because U. S. citizens are the most dangerous enemy, in their view.

On the post: Campus Police Chief Says Former Faculty Member A Threat To Public Safety Because Of A Game He Made 10 Years Ago

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 23 Nov, 2015 @ 02:46pm

This has relevance to the national surveillance debate. The intelligence agencies record all this data and keep it for an indeterminate time.

But don't worry, citizens! We would never dig back through your surveillance data to look up something embarrassing you did ten years ago, that we can use as an excuse to penalize you now.

On the post: France Responds To Paris Attacks By Rushing Through Internet Censorship Law

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 20 Nov, 2015 @ 06:46pm

Binge time

Oh, noes terrorists done something evil! Binge time!!!

I swear, our human-rights oriented western governments are like a bunch of binge drunks let run loose in a liquor store. They take an oath to get off the hooch, but turn them loose in the store and watch what happens...

On the post: Loretta Lynch Essentially Says The Ferguson Effect Is Bullshit

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 20 Nov, 2015 @ 09:33am

Re: Pedantically,

The so-called "Ferguson Effect" is merely a political argument to silence critics of the police. Data is not needed. In fact, data is probably counterproductive; it might undercut the argument.

On the post: Is There Any Evidence In The World That Would Convince Intelligence Community That More Surveillance Isn't The Answer?

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 17 Nov, 2015 @ 12:45pm

No argument whatsoever

Imagine "Abu" has raised the suspicions of an intelligence service (IS). Paranoia flares, there is no innocence: once suspicious, always.

Finding no confirmation for its suspicions, the IS can, of course, hold closer surveillance on Abu in the future.

But one cannot go back and add surveillance in the past. Since the IS cannot, by its own lights, be wrong in its suspicions of Abu, paranoia concludes that past intelligence opportunities must have been missed. If only there had been total surveillance on Abu in the past.

But they didn't know Abu needed to be watched until suspicion flared: they never know anyone needs watched until suspicion flares. This in turn leads to the reasoning that everyone must be under total surveillance, for it is only by this means that the IS can ensure they will have all necessary surveillance on all future suspects.

Perhaps this sounds paranoid or stupid. But an IS is paranoid by definition, made stupid by its paranoia...and this is your answer: No argument whatsoever, will satisfy an IS of a need for less than total surveillance.

On the post: US Officials Have No Problem Leaking Classified Surveillance Information… As Long As It Fits Their Narrative

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 07 Nov, 2015 @ 12:13am

Prioritizing secrecy

Well, you've got to understand our surveillance priorities in order to have a clear view of this.

Priority for terrorists: Meh. The group that leaked doesn't exist anymore, it was disbanded for protocol violations. Plus, no foreign terrorist is ever going to sue NSA in court for surveillance; foreigners have no standing. So it's no big deal if we prove the worth of our surveillance by once in a while dropping names.

On the other hand, revelations about surveillance of U.S. citizens is a priority concern. First off the bat, we have all these radical elements in the citizen population; especially the (eek) commies...oops, I mean liberals. They must be watched. The problem is that citizens have standing to sue: if they find out they're being watched, OMG! Well, they just can't find out, that's it.

Terrorists, who cares about leaks, leaks are good for our image; U. S. citizens, talk about us watching them and we'll hang you from the yardarm...TRAITOR!

On the post: Facebook Bans Tsu Links Entirely, Choosing Control Over User Empowerment

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 06 Nov, 2015 @ 03:41pm

Theft of ad revenue

The Balkanization of the web continues with corporations asserting their entitlement to control their user base and its proceeds. That appears to me to be the real reason for blocking Tsu and Google+, because by directing people to those sites, users are "stealing" from Facebook.

On the post: Will Molecular Biology's Most Important Discovery In Years Be Ruined By Patents?

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 06 Nov, 2015 @ 08:25am

A real question

I think someone should be asking another question: "Where does all this money go?"

I mean, suppose University of California wins this argument and truly makes billions on this technology: where would the money go? Shouldn't the university be teaching students for free on that money?

Or are they spending the NCAA earnings and all their patent royalties on their solid platinum stadium? Bonuses for the president?

On the post: NYPD Wants $42,000 To Turn Over Documents Related To Discharges Of Officers' Firearms

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 06 Nov, 2015 @ 08:15am

The answer

$42,000, the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything; and also making snoopy citizens "go away."

On the post: Court Punishes Bogus Removal Of Juror Who Questioned Police Corruption By… Removing Troublesome Juror

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 04 Nov, 2015 @ 05:16pm

Nothing disturbs our "champions of justice" more than real justice.

On the post: Democrats Screw Over Larry Lessig To Keep Him Out Of The Debates; Forces Lessig To Drop His Campaign

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 03 Nov, 2015 @ 09:30am

Wing Nuts R Us

The Democratic party prefers to avoid coddling outrageous candidates. Unlike the opposition Wing Nuts R Us™ party.

On the post: Court: When Aerial Surveillance Resembles An 'Invasion,' It Becomes An Illegal Search

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 27 Oct, 2015 @ 10:17am

Law enforcement and searches

Law enforcement is all disappointed now. It's hard for them to understand why anything would constitute a search; much less their proctoscope.

Oh, wait, I forgot: law enforcement is pretty sure having someone looking through their lockers or desk drawers is a search. I guess it just depends on whose space is being invaded: them or all us dastardly criminals.

On the post: District Attorney Agrees With His Office That Potentially Embarrassing Recordings Of Him Should Not Be Released

Coyne Tibbets ( profile ), 26 Oct, 2015 @ 10:49am

Isn't it funny...

Too bad the various DOJ's can't argue this effectively when defending the average citizen's Rights. Sadly, they only pull out their best when the department or an official/officer will be embarrassed.

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