Our second set of headlines, as always, brings notable developments in the realms of espionage [both governmental and corporate], security at home and above [both personal and national], miltarism, and the ongoing never-ending Asian Game of Zones.
We begin with Snowden blowback from the New York Times:
Merkel Says Gaps With U.S. Over Surveillance Remain
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said Friday that there were still significant differences between Germany and the United States over the issue of surveillance, and warned that it was too soon to return to “business as usual” between the two allies.
At a joint news conference at the White House, both Ms. Merkel and President Obama addressed the tensions between the two countries caused by the disclosure last October that the National Security Agency had eavesdropped on Ms. Merkel’s phone calls. At the time, Ms. Merkel said that “spying between friends is simply unacceptable,” and that there had been a breach of trust that would have to be repaired.
Speaking in the Rose Garden after a meeting with Mr. Obama, Ms. Merkel said that “we have a few difficulties still to overcome,” noting in particular a difference “on the issue of proportionality.”
And a related development from TheLocal.de:
German IT expert hacks NSA homepage
A computer expert from eastern Germany claims to have hacked the homepage of the US National Security Agency (NSA), leaving a message on the site for American security experts.
Matthias Ungethüm from Saxony said on Friday he had replaced the NSA slogan “Codebreakers and Codemakers” with the German phrase “Durchleuchten Sie Ihre Homepage” – “Examine your homepage” on the website of America’s security agency.
The NSA is deeply unpopular in Germany after revelations last year it carried out a mass surveillance programme and tapped the phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel. So Ungethüm decided to turn the tables.
From the Christian Science Monitor, mixed signals from the White House:
Online privacy: Obama report outlines the perils, and promise, of ‘big data’
The Obama administration report calls for an online bill of rights, but it also recognizes that insights from big data are being tapped to solve problems, not just push personalized online ads.
A new Obama administration report calls the collection of personal data by corporations increasingly “invasive,” but also sings the praises of so-called “big data.”
The report calls for new steps, such as an online bill of rights. Yet it also seeks to tread cautiously in a fast-evolving realm that spans from Facebook to online shopping and medical information.
That’s because the insights gleaned from big data – the act of compiling and analyzing digital information about consumers – are being tapped to solve problems, not just push personalized online ads.
The report envisions stakeholders such as corporations coming together “to develop voluntary, enforceable codes of conduct that specify how the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights applies in specific business contexts.”
And for your amusement, this creation of Walt Handelsman for the New Orleans Advocate:
Fade to white
From CBC News, smilar concerns, north of the border:
State surveillance under microscope
Canada’s interim privacy commissioner Chantal Bernier has called for a revamp of federal privacy laws that would require telecom firms to tell Canadians how many requests for data on private citizens they handle from federal enforcement bodies.
Her request to a Senate committee followed revelations that nine telecommunication companies field 1.2 million requests for private customer information every year and raises the issue of how extensively federal agencies are monitoring Canadian citizens.
The revelations come on the heels of Edward Snowden’s documents showing that the phone calls of American citizens were under widespread surveillance by the CIA and National Security Agency. The U.S. whistleblower also revealed a vast network of Canadian spying on behalf of the NSA.
From Ars Technica, Ars Propaganda:
US State Department adopting social media to counter Al-Qaeda propaganda
US says violent extremists increasingly taking to social media.
Buried in an intelligence report published Wednesday, the government said that the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC), established in 2011, last year produced more than 10,000 online postings globally, some of which included one of 138 government-produced videos.
“CSCC’s programs draw on a full range of intelligence information and analysis for context and feedback. CSCC counters terrorist propaganda in the social media environment on a daily basis, contesting space where AQ and its supporters formerly had free rein. CSCC communications have provoked defensive responses from violent extremists on many of the 249 most popular extremist websites and forums as well as on social media,” said the document, Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 (PDF).
The State Department has a global social media presence from Afghanistan to Vietnam. The platform ranges from blogs to Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, and others. But the government also trains others, including victims of terrorism, to adopt social media, according to the report.
From Homeland Security News Wire, mounting fears?:
Russia may launch crippling cyberattacks on U.S. in retaliation for Ukraine sanctions
U.S. officials and security experts are warning that Russian hackers may attack the computer networks of U.S. banks and critical infrastructure firms in retaliation for new sanctions by the Obama administration, imposed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Cybersecurity specialists consider Russian hackers among the best at infiltrating networks and some say that they have already inserted malicious software on computer systems in the United States.
U.S. officials and security experts are warning that Russian hackers may attack the computer networks of U.S. banks and critical infrastructure firms in retaliation for new sanctions by the Obama administration, imposed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Cybersecurity specialists consider Russian hackers among the best at infiltrating networks and some say that they have already inserted malicious software on computer systems in the United States.
Black sites and black actions from Al Jazeera America:
Senate report set to reveal Djibouti as CIA ‘black site’
Horn of Africa nation has denied hosting secret prison facilities for US, but classified document may undermine claim
The legal case of a former CIA detainee suing the government of Djibouti for hosting the facility where he says he was detained could be helped by the contents of a still-classified Senate report. Djibouti, a key U.S. ally, has denied for years that its territory has been used to keep suspected Al-Qaeda operatives in secret captivity. But the Senate investigation into the agency’s “detention and interrogation program” concluded that several people had been secretly detained in the tiny Horn of Africa state, two U.S. officials who read an early draft of the report told Al Jazeera.
Official confirmation of Djibouti’s role in hosting “black sites” used in the CIA’s rendition program would be welcomed by Mohammad al-Asad, a Yemeni arrested at his home in Tanzania on Dec. 27, 2003, blindfolded and flown to a location he insists was Djibouti. Two U.S. officials who read an early draft of the report of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation — and who requested anonymity because the report remains classified — were unaware of whether al-Asad’s case was specifically cited in the document. But they confirmed that the report found that several detainees had been held in Djibouti, and that at least two of them had been wrongfully detained.
DutchNews.nl stands up to Washington:
Court was right to stop terror suspect deportation to US
The appeal court in The Hague was right to call a halt to the deportation of terror suspect Sabir K to the US in 2013, the advocate general of the Dutch supreme court said on Friday, according to broadcaster Nos.
The Hague court said last July there was still too much uncertainty over the involvement of America in K’s torture following his arrest in Pakistan. The Dutch government, which backs K’s deportation, then took the issue to the Supreme Court.
The advocate general’s advice is usually acted upon by the supreme court when it makes its rulings.
From Sky News, police John-shaming:
Prostitution Sting To Be Live-Tweeted By Police
Names and photographs of suspects arrested for soliciting prostitutes will be published on a police force’s Twitter account.
A police force has been criticised after promising to live-tweet a prostitution sting next week.
Officers in Maryland say they will “take you along for the takedowns” as they target people who use sex workers in Prince George County.
The names and photographs of suspects will be tweeted as they are arrested.
Another nit-tweet from TheLocal.se:
Student suspended for insulting prof on Twitter
A Swedish college has suspended a 21-year-old female student who took to Twitter to insult her teacher’s appearance while he was giving a lecture.
The male teacher at Jönköping University told administrators that he noticed the student taking a picture of him, and that the incident not only disrupted the lecture but left him feeling upset and violated.
The notes from the disciplinary hearing did not specify what kind of comments the 21-year-old woman made. She has since said her actions were “immature”.
And another leak-seeking, this ine on Casa esnl’s home turf via Berkeleyside:
City of Berkeley seeks source of leaked confidential info
The city of Berkeley is on the hunt to determine who released private police personnel documents related to a confidential investigation — into an in-custody death involving local officers last year — to UC Berkeley’s Daily Californian newspaper.
Thursday evening, Berkeley city manager Christine Daniel notified the mayor and council members about the leak, which she described to them via email as “an unfortunate and concerning event that occurred regarding confidential police personnel information.”
Daniel wrote that the Daily Cal had told the city it had gotten “confidential personnel-specific findings” from the Police Review Commission’s inquest into the in-custody death of Kayla Moore last year. (Moore’s family has filed a lawsuit against the city over that fatality.)
From Ars Technica, and they’ll take it only from their cold, dead hands?:
Feds issue “draft guidance” to restrict high-powered laser pointers
If passed, nearly all such lasers would be capped at 5 milliwatts of power.
On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration published new draft guidance that could effectively put an end to high-powered lasers in the United States. It will not be formally approved until the 90-day comment period has passed.
The move is likely in response to the growing threat of laser strikes against aircraft. Since early 2014, the FBI has offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who reports a laser strike to federal authorities, leading to an arrest. Since the FBI began keeping track in 2004, there have been more than 12,000 reported incidents nationwide—and the incident rate continues to climb.
Earlier this year, a California man was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a lasering incident, believed to be the harshest such sentence in the United States, and possibly in the world. Pilots say that being struck with such lasers can be terrifying, causing temporary blindness and sometimes lingering headaches.
From TechWeekEurope, let your paranoia run rampant:
Apple Earpods To Include Health Sensors – Report
New Apple earpods will reportedly include sensors to monitor a user’s heart rate and blood pressure
Apple is following Samsung into the health market after a leak suggested that its next generation earbuds (or earpods in Apple speak) will include health sensors.
The report (if true) highlights an increasing problem for tech firms in Silicon Valley, as the leak came from a posting on the anonymous social network ‘Secret’, which is favoured by many high-tech workers. Secret yesterday revealed plans to launch in the UK and elsewhere.
“Apple’s new EarPods will have sensors in them, for heart rate & blood pressure. Also iBeacons so they don’t get lost. They will require the lightning port, it’s why the audio jack was moved to the bottom,” said the anonymous posting on Secret.
The posting also reportedly added that “[The phone] stores the data in a similar way to thumbprint point data, fully encrypted and nothing identifiable. But nice to send to your doctor to keep track of at which point your blood pressure started rising for example.”
From Corriere della Sera, cans of worms, about to be opened, including cases in which intelligence agencies and undercover operators were deeply ivolved, often causally:
Renzi Declassifies “Years of Lead” Files
“A duty to victims”, says PM. Order accelerates transfer of classified documents held by central government administrations
last week’s announcement, Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, yesterday signed an order declassifying files on the Ustica (1980), Peteano (1972), Italicus (1974), Piazza Fontana (1969), Piazza della Loggia (1974), Gioia Tauro (1970), Bologna railway station (1980) and Rapido 904 train (1984) murders. The signing took place at Palazzo Chigi in the presence of the junior minister for the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for the security services, Marco Minniti, and the director of the department of security information (DIS), ambassador Giampiero Massolo. Mr Renzi commented: “One of the key features of this government’s actions is transparency and openness. Today’s decision is a step in that direction. I consider it a duty towards Italians and towards the relatives of the victims of these events, which remain a dark stain on our collective memory”.
Later, Mr Renzi tweeted that the government had declassified documents on “some of the darkest pages in Italian history”, adding to the list the 1973 attack on the police headquarters in Milan. In line with last Friday’s ruling by the interministerial consultative and decision-making committee on intelligence service policy (CISR), the order enables early transfer of “classified files held by all central government administrations that represent an important contribution to the historic memory of the nation”.]
After the jump, that latest from Asia, including a memorable anniversary ahead, the latest and complex developments in that ongoing Games of Zones, salami tactics, a panopticon expansion, and the latest from the regional wild card. . .
From New Europe, an earlier imperial effort recalled:
Memory of Dien Bien Phu live among Vietnamese veterans
The 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory over French forces, which falls on May 7, has been widely celebrated across Vietnam. Local media said that memory of a time of blood and fire is an unforgettable epic in the hearts of Vietnamese veterans in the past 60 years.
Local Dan Tri (Knowledge for People) online newspaper earlier this week made an interview with Col. Nguyen Huyen in his house in central Ha Tinh province.
Huyen is over 80 years old now but his spiritual health remains firm and quick. Memory of Dien Bien Phu campaign stays untouched in his mind.
Want China Times goes to market:
Ballistic missiles from China on the global market
China is selling ground-to-ground ballistic missiles to the highest bidders, already having supplied the weapons to four nations worldwide.
The news came to light recently when Saudi Arabia displayed a Chinese Dongfeng 3 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile during a military parade on April 29.
Saudi Arabia purchased ballistic missiles from China in the late 1980s, in the wake of the successful launch of a ballistic missile by Israel, after the US turned down its request to buy weapons. The missiles helped the nation successfully deter Iraq from making further advances after its invasion of Kuwait.
And from NHK WORLD, a case of crossing the line:
Chinese patrol boats enter Japanese waters
Three Chinese patrol boats entered Japan’s territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Friday.
Japan Coast Guard officials say the vessels intruded into Japan’s territorial waters off Kubashima Island, Okinawa Prefecture, at about 11:30 AM.
The Coast Guard warned them to leave immediately. The Chinese vessels left the territorial waters about 3 hours later.
Meanwhile, Japan’s ruling alliance splits over resurgent, Washington-backed militarism, via the Asahi Shimbun:
LDP, New Komeito set to clash over collective self-defense
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner New Komeito are headed for a showdown over Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pursuit of Japan’s right to collective self-defense.
Abe has decided to put together a “government document” that would allow for the exercise of the right to collective self-defense, sources say.
Because of its pacifist history, New Komeito has long opposed changing the government’s interpretation of the Constitution, which prohibits Japan from using force to settle international disputes.
It has even gone so far as to say it would not go along with a Cabinet consent on any document that clearly mentions collective self-defense, whereby Japan would be obliged to rush to the aid of an ally that comes under attack.
The Japan Times finds more dissent:
Ex-minister says LDP using dangerous tactics to rejigger Constitution
A former Cabinet minister has criticized the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s team for aiming to change the government’s interpretation of the Constitution to legalize the use of collective self-defense.
“It’s like getting into a school through the back door because the entrance exam is difficult,” Shusei Tanaka, 73, former chief of now-defunct Economic Planning Agency, said in a recent interview.
Tanaka, a special adviser to former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and director-general of the EPA under former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, slammed those in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who are pushing the change by saying the amendment process takes too much time or is procedurally difficult.
Jiji Press ponders a constitutional change:
Japan’s Collective Self-Defense Requires Article 9 Revision
Japan should squarely discuss a revision to war-renouncing Article 9 of its constitution if it wants to lift a self-imposed ban on the exercise of the right to collective self-defense, Masahiro Sakata, former head of Japan’s constitutional watchdog, maintains.
“A constitutional revision is the only way” to enable Japan to exercise the collective self-defense right, Sakata said in a recent interview. He was director-general of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau between August 2004 and September 2006, when Junichiro Koizumi was prime minister.
“You just can’t lift the ban only by changing the government’s constitutional interpretation,” he said. “You can’t reach any such conclusion logically, no matter what reading you make of Article 9 of the constitution. That would be the same as ignoring Article 9.”
From NHK WORLD, a bare margin favors changing the nation’s post-war founding document:
NHK survey on amending the Constitution
A survey by NHK has shown that people are divided on whether the Constitution should be amended.
NHK surveyed 2,667 people aged 18 or older in mid-April, ahead of Constitution Day on May 3rd. 60 percent responded.
Asked about amending the Constitution, 28 percent were in favor, 26 percent said it was not necessary, and 40 percent were undecided. Compared to the previous survey a year ago, the ratio of those supporting amending it was down 14 percentage points, while those opposing was up 10 points.
And from Jiji Press, D.C. backs the militarists:
U.S. Reiterates Support for Japan’s Collective Self-Defense
A visiting key official of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party obtained Thursday the United States’ reassurance of its support for the Asian ally’s move to allow its troops to defend other countries under attack.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said they back Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s initiative to enable his country to exercise the right to collective self-defense, LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba said after his separate meetings with them in Washington.
During his visit to Japan last month, U.S. President Barack Obama already threw his support behind Abe’s push to change the Japanese government’s interpretation of the pacifist constitution to make it possible for Japan to exercise the collective self-defense right.
From the Asahi Shimbun, local-level evasion:
Skittish local governments stay away from controversial issues
When a citizens’ group for the protection of war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution wanted to obtain municipal backing for its lecture, it first had to promise city officials that its message would mirror the mayor’s stance.
Wataru Koike, a member of the civic group, Chikuma-shi 9 Jo no Kai (Chikuma article 9 association), received a fax from a Chikuma official in Nagano Prefecture in mid-January demanding that “the contents of your lecture will not differ from the stance of our mayor.”
“This is the real feelings of the city government,” Koike, 71, thought.
The demand mirrors a trend in Japan as skittish local governments are keeping their distance from discussions of divisive topics, such as constitutional revisions and hate speech.
Jiji Press offers salami tactics:
Possible to Gradually Expand Range of Collective Self-Defense: Ishiba
Senior Japanese ruling party official Shigeru Ishiba said Friday it would be possible to gradually expand the range of activities where the country can exercise its collective self-defense right after a small start.
In a speech here, Ishiba, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, said that the scope of activities in which the exercise of the collective self-defense right is allowed would be very limited at the beginning, indicating that the defense of U.S. warships in high seas could be among the activities.
He apparently took into consideration lingering domestic concerns about the idea of enabling Japan to use the right.
From the Japan Daily Press, the panopticon expands:
Tokyo airports to test facial recognition system with hopes of improving immigration checks
Long lines at airport immigration may soon be a thing of the past. Thanks to the Justice Ministry’s plan to use a facial recognition system in Japanese airports, your time waiting may just speed up with this.
The system will be experimentally installed at both the Haneda and Narita international airports by this August and will run for five weeks. Japanese travelers would be identified by cross-referencing their photos taken at immigration areas with their passport information, which would speed up the processing for Japanese nationals, leaving more time to check foreign nationals entering the country. With Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympics, the government is anticipating an influx of foreigners visiting through these entry points and hopes to offer a quick immigration process.
And for our final item, the wild card strikes again, via the Guardian:
North Korea testing engine for possible nuclear missile, say analysts
Satellite images of launch site said to show work on ICBM known as KN-08 that has been showcased at military parades
New satellite imagery indicates North Korea has been testing the engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile, a US thinktank has said, amid concerns the North is preparing a nuclear test.
The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said images of the North’s main rocket launch site suggested one “and maybe more” tests of what was probably the first stage of a KN-08 road-mobile ICBM.
With this latest activity, three KN-08 rocket engine tests have been identified for the first and possibly second stages of the missile dating back to mid-2013, the institute said on its website 38 North.
