[Cryptography] Signal chat fallout.

[Ray Dillinger]

On 3/27/25 14:23, Christian Huitema wrote:
> On 3/26/2025 6:41 PM, Ray Dillinger wrote:
>
> about all the issues with cell phones, and then this:
>
>> Additionally, the use of an e2e app which automatically deletes 
>> messages (one of Signal's features) for government business appears 
>> to be a violation of the US Federal Records act.
>
> .. and I have some sympathy for people who don't want everything 
> recorded and archived. You can't help thinking that there was some 
> kind of mission creep. The 1950 version of the act applied to 
> "records", such as an official decision. That was last extended by the 
> Obama administration to include "every electronic record". And now we 
> appear to believe that every text message is an electronic record. 
> What's next? Install microphones and keep a record of every 
> conversation held in the bathroom?
>
You realize that the motivation for not wanting this on the record might 
have something to do with the real-time confession that they were 
committing a war crime?  When Hegseth talks about getting confirmation 
that their "top missile guy" walked into "his girlfriend's building" and 
now the building is collapsed....  you realize, they're talking about 
taking down a RESIDENTIAL building FULL OF CIVILIANS in order to get one 
high-value enemy combatant?

I may be an old-fashioned sort, but I rather liked the version of 
America that didn't speed-run the Geneva Checklist at the slightest 
provocation, and while we've been talking about the magnitude of the 
security screwup, we should be clear about the secret they were 
(failing) to protect in this case being all about direct violation of US 
and International law, starting with the Geneva Convention.

While I do have sympathy for people that don't want everything recorded 
and archived, and security in one form or another is the focus of this 
list, my sympathy falls short when the secret the people are trying to 
protect is that they were in fact committing a war crime at the instant 
their security failed.

Bear