Oh, the privacy scare mongering that happens online. I still giggle at people who copy and paste that dumb Facebook status about all their pictures belonging to them – as if anyone could believe that would actually impact privacy rules. There is a lot of misinformation out there, but the latest claim is really quite worrying.
According to an emailed fact sheet sent to some key players, Obama has issued a cybersecurity executive order. This order creates a new framework for,
Expanded information sharing designed to help companies work together, and work with the federal government, to quickly identify and protect against cyber threats.
This is something separate from the Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Protection Act (CIPSPA) which is a bill that is trying to get through American legislation but keeps failing due to privacy concerns. No, this framework is something of a workaround – it allows companies to share information with the federal government via a company that will then work with the newly created National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center before getting passed to Homeland Security. It’s important to note that this framework sends information to Homeland Security as compared to the NSA; this is a major distinction as Homeland Security is a civilian organization while the NSA is military.
So, why should we care? Well, while certain groups have politely said no thanks, others are already signing up.
But some groups are signing on for full information sharing, starting now. They include the Cyber Threat Alliance, which includes Palo Alto Networks, Symantec, Intel Security and Fortinet; the Entertainment Software Association, which represents Sony and Microsoft’s video game divisions, as well as many more of the largest video game companies in the country; Crowdstrike, a security firm; Box, a cloud storage company; and FireEye, a cybersecurity firm.
That’s right, gaming companies are signing up of their own volition to share your information with the department of Homeland Security (as well as some other organizations along the way). What will this mean for you? Maybe nothing. But maybe your gaming habits, or the general chatter among South African gamers, will impact future prospects. It’s a lot of data to trudge through, and it’s not like the American government will take note of your individual screaming during COD and apply it to reality, but it’s still distressing for them to have access to our private records, and with company consent,too.
Last Updated: February 17, 2015
Brady miaau
February 17, 2015 at 20:04
Well, information is only of real value if it is used. Is this information valuable? I cannot see how, for the typical gamer. I imagine that, should there be a reason to look up a particular persons, for non-gaming reasons, gaming profiles and activities,there might, just might be some value.
Macethy
February 17, 2015 at 20:43
Well I’m sure that the NSA and other institutes are monitoring Facebook and Twitter private messages for threats, so now they will probably be doing the same with PS and XBOX messages to try and identify threats, as the scary people might be using these platforms to get around typical monitored communications.
Brady miaau
February 17, 2015 at 21:24
So you are saying they could use this as a source to find troubled people. Hmm. Good point.
ultraviolet
February 18, 2015 at 02:38
very true.
if there is any hard-line terrorists out there using facebook or twitter private messaging to contact other cell members for clandestine activities they deserve to be court [well, they deserve to be court anyway] i thought these social sites where mainly for used to spread their propaganda
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 17, 2015 at 22:24
They’re drowning themselves in data, for no better reason than they can, in the mistaken belief that data is information, which it’s not.
Darren Peach
February 18, 2015 at 04:46
There are two ways you can view this. You can give up on technology and become a doomsday prepper and move to your nearest forested mountain to live out your life in isolation knowing that deep down you accept that you want to play the banjo and copulate with your cousin thus resulting in spawn that go all ” Deliverance” . The other option is to just give in to Big Brother and accept that the machines are coming. Either way, Gamers will know how to survive in these dire times. All we need is a Crowbar….
ultraviolet
February 18, 2015 at 06:31
i hope you watch [and enjoy]: ‘Person Of Interest’ ?
Darren Peach
February 18, 2015 at 09:35
No, Is that a show on tv ? I only watch stuff that appeals to me at face value and I catch up on good ones I missed when they were current like The Sopranos which I just finished. Any good ?
ultraviolet
February 18, 2015 at 12:14
well, with privacy at the forefront of peoples minds lately i think you might find it a good watch. its in season 4 at the moment, but, if you start from the beginning and watch up to the end of season 3 you should be more than happy how it ends up. very good writing and a lovely story arc.
heres a little sample for you [no spoilers]
Rock789
February 18, 2015 at 07:15
It’s not paranoia if they really are watching you… o_O
**locks, bolts, padlocks and blocks door. Fetches shotgun and sits in rocking chair, facing said door.**
Pieter Kruger
February 18, 2015 at 07:27
But after the whole Kinect spying debacle Sony will never…….
Hammersteyn
February 18, 2015 at 07:44
No, that’s sharing a game
Pieter Kruger
February 18, 2015 at 07:53
And to be fair, Sony has no need to sign up for this. Their security being the hole riddled water bucket that it is, everyone can just get the info off the net! ????
Hammersteyn
February 18, 2015 at 08:15
????????????
Spathi
February 18, 2015 at 08:16
(refresh)
Hammersteyn
February 18, 2015 at 07:45
Drones will circle the homes of all those that buy Hatred.
Pieter Kruger
February 18, 2015 at 07:55
Just order a Dominos pizza and watch their drones fight it out over your house! ????????????
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 18, 2015 at 08:01
They’ll be recruited, just like hackers.