Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Once again this is an issue of centralization. Imagine everything is decentralized - mesh networks, open source server software, social networks etc. How is a government going to enforce that no one runs a private encrypted network? And using one step of tunneling how would it make sure no one runs a VPN? Short of a total physical police state like the USSR under Stalin the only thing they could do is mandate backdoors in physical devices. Because manufacturing is going to be the last bastion of centralization. If you think I'm joking, see this and this:

http://www.popularresistance.org/new-intel-based-pcs-permane...

http://wccftech.com/intel-possibly-amd-chips-permanent-backd...

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/519661/nsas-own-hardwar...

And lest you think only governments do this, a lot of hardware DRM has been almost entirely the result of the entertainment lobby and licensing:

https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z13qtnxhuojytbjbr04...

As you can see the main targets are still INSTITUTIONS. Once they are decentralized it will be harder to control who makes the software. If you want to read my own thoughts on these things, see these two links:

http://magarshak.com/blog/?p=114

http://magarshak.com/blog/?p=169




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2025 batch! Applications are open till Aug 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: