James Comey, Director of the FBI, just “happened” to mention that he places tape over his laptop’s webcam. His comment came during the question and answer session after a speech on encryption and privacy at Kenyon College.
Encryption issues
The Director was speaking about the issues surrounding the FBI vs Apple court battle, when one of the students asked a question. His remark was off -the-cuff, but created a groundswell of responses.
NPR reported,
“I saw something in the news, so I copied it. I put a piece of tape — I have obviously a laptop, personal laptop — I put a piece of tape over the camera. Because I saw somebody smarter than I am had a piece of tape over their camera.”
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
Here is the link to Comey’s address at Kenyon College.
Unhackable FBI Director
Why does this matter? The FBI has stated numerous times that companies should not make “unhackable” technology. Comey’s position has always been that “absolute privacy hampers law enforcement.” However, he did admit that if he had been Apple’s Attorney, he would have made the same argument.
Director Comey insisted that the public should know how companies create unhackable technology, he suggested that the public should have an “adult conversation” about the balance between law enforcement’s needs and the right to privacy in today’s world.
But now he admits he uses a piece of tape over his webcam to make it “unhackable” or let’s just say not vulnerable to a search warrant. Ahem….
FBI Director Comey has created a “warrant-proof webcam” that will thwart lawful surveillance should he ever be investigated. Shame on him.
— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) April 7, 2016
I recommend that everyone cover their webcam w/tape, but my laptop’s microphone scares me even more, and there is no easy way to disable it. — Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) April 8, 2016
I spotted this warrant-proof anti lawful surveillance of webcam tech at Staples today. What if terrorists buy it? pic.twitter.com/ycaGgCoiDP — Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) April 7, 2016
Constitution versus Law Enforcement
The arguments used to be about judicial oversight and the rule of law, and the Constitutional boundaries. The FBI has changed that now to be about whether unhackable technology has a right to exist. Would someone explain that unhackable tape thing to Mr. Comey?
Comey admits he puts a piece of tape over the webcam lens on his laptop #KenyonCSAD — The Kenyon Collegian (@KenyonCollegian) April 7, 2016
RT @peddoc63 Hillary has a new “private server” James Comey FBI%uD83D%uDE0E pic.twitter.com/ZiSpuUv9Kr #pjnet — Conservative Cathy♥ (@catwahler) April 8, 2016
#JamesComey is hypocritically concerned about privacy. He taped his laptop webcam. https://t.co/J3MjAodGFY https://t.co/mevDXhgU1w — Chris Neufeld (@greenbychris) April 10, 2016
#KenyonCollege students praised for the “remarkably sophisticated” questions they asked @FBI director James Comey: https://t.co/8KwBYVi1Rc — Kenyon College (@KenyonCollege) April 7, 2016
FBI says hack tool only works on iPhone 5c: FBI Director James Comey said late Wednesday … https://t.co/HuJB9xx6tf #Enterprise #CIO #IT — Craig Brown, Ph.D. (@craigbrownphd) April 7, 2016
FBI Director James Comey says there’s no rush on Hillary Clinton’s email probe https://t.co/NJmzdPa055 pic.twitter.com/KB40SrC2p5 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 6, 2016
H/T Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children
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