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On 4/27/20 9:28 PM, Marc Sunet wrote:<br>
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<p>Robert,</p>
<p>Thanks for your very detailed and down-to-earth summary of the
situation. </p>
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<br>
<b>Marc: </b> You are welcome, of course......<br>
<br>
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<p>Your summary is very enlightening and renders the news on
mainstream media a children's show in comparison. </p>
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<br>
Thank you, for your kind words. <br>
<br>
I should perhaps attempt to clarify a point. It was the intention
behind my writing that, at least a cursory examination of the
collective action/reaction to the SARS-CoV2 pandemic response
conditions could enlighten us further to our mis-steps <b>in
relation to Privacy and Security.</b> To be sure, by no means was
the intention to speak solely of <b>SARS-CoV2.</b> <br>
<br>
In my response, I shall attempt to do my best then, to maintain
thought connections to the subject concentration of interest to the
list as well.<br>
<br>
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<p>[ .... ] Your summary gives me a glimmer of hope in that it
makes it seem like one can still make sense of the situation by
asking basic, fundamental questions and not worrying too much
about, or being misguided by, details and technicalities (I
don't know if this was your intention).<br>
</p>
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<br>
It was my intention, Marc, to emphasize the <b>importance of
understanding "the problem",</b> both fundamentally, and
comprehensively. In direct response to your aforementioned
reference to "details and technicalities", permit me to share the
following thought. I would submit that, WRT SARS-CoV2, Privacy and
Security, <b>details, and technicalities</b> do play a crucial role
in increasing the chances of our 'greater' and 'finer' understanding
of the standing issues/accompanying facts. <br>
<br>
WRT to Privacy and Security, it remains my assessment that <b>decisive
fundamentals</b> are either being consistently missed, ignored or
side-stepped in discussions and operations. To highlight this
point, I would like to refer back to the <b>SARS-CoV2</b> states -
for relatability purposes.<br>
<br>
With respect to the <b>SARS-CoV2</b> global onslaught, for ANYONE
to: <b>1)</b> NOT PRINCIPALLY consider the "nature of beast you are
dealing with" in formulating the required public policies, and
toward instantiating actions, and <b>2)</b> irresponsibly slim-down
the public (health) risks associated with "nature of beast you are
dealing with", all because "a" certain society is UNPREPARED
(whatever be the reason), and also because widespread impressions
must now be managed in the wake of public administration failures
etc., <b>are both, totally unacceptable positions/conditions.</b> <br>
<br>
The fact that <b>SARS-CoV2</b><b> is a </b><b>BSL-3</b> virus - is
BOTH fundamentally, and technically relevant - to how we
assess/manage "risk" to the public, and to ensure that those
treatment facilities involved can be/are properly instrumented to
receive, process and treat/care for those who are effected by <b>SARS-CoV2.
</b><b><br>
</b><br>
<br>
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<p> </p>
<p>One question I would like to ask you: given that hospitals are
not BSL-3 facilities and given your stance on protecting health
workers with the right equipment, what is your opinion on how we
are treating the other "essential" workers: teachers, grocery
store workers, delivery people, etc? A worker on NBC news once
said "we are not essential, we are exhausted and expendable",
which seems to resonate well with your statements.<i><br>
</i></p>
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<br>
Since <b>LiberationTech</b> and list membership have a focus, allow
me to answer this question of yours, in the following manner. <b>Security
and Privacy are both fundamental attributes</b> -- essential to
the maintenance of vibrant and thriving societies. Therefore,
Security and Privacy are <b>fundamental human rights</b> in our
societies. None should be exempt from being afforded these human
rights.<br>
<br>
In the same way, when considering the large-scale implications
related to contracting <b>SARS-CoV2,</b> any classification of
"essential" and "non-essential" workers as such, have to be
looked-upon as being arbitrary and artificial, for <b>SOCIETY'S
focus should NOT rest upon</b> <font color="#ff0000"><b>either
the 'essentiality' or 'non-essentiality' of people in crises,</b></font>
rather, the focus and all efforts <b>must be extended</b> to the
protection and preservation of every human life.<br>
<br>
<br>
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<p><i> </i></p>
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<p><i>> At the moment though, to say that we are NOT properly
devoted, constructed or orchestrated to attend to crucial
problems related to Privacy or Security of information,
particularly for the "Information Age", would simply be a
gross understatement!</i></p>
<p><i>> NO "APP of the Month" is going to solve the
increasingly gargantuan problem. After decades of big
budget expenditures toward ensuring the 'Security of
information', 'SECURITY" has remained elusive.</i></p>
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<p>[ .... ] I suppose the constant references to this
situation as "war" or "war-like" are just a propagandist attempt
to raise the sense of urgency so that they can move along
without people asking too many questions. It seems to be a
remake of past events, or maybe I am just completely paranoid...</p>
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<br>
In the matter of securing, preserving or enhancing conditions
related to human rights then, citizens everywhere have to be better
equipped to <b>"govern" themselves,</b> which, in part, involves <b>possessing
a clearer understanding of '</b><b>standing issues/accompanying
facts'.</b> We also have to have in place, the proper <b>"governance
framework & accompanying instruments"</b> to facilitate proper
levels of <b>'citizen engagement'</b> and <b>'participation',</b>
whereupon WILLFUL ACTIONS can be taken by the GOVERNED, actions
which are wholly based upon a clear understanding of pertinent and
standing issues/accompanying facts, as are necessary.<br>
<br>
When individuals in society possess such strength, and 'a sense of
purpose' through that strength, the same individuals and their
respective societies CANNOT SUCCUMB to any drumbeats of, as you
describe, "war" or to other "propagandist' attempts".<br>
<br>
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<p>Thank you for summary, once again. I also wonder -- what is the
best way to follow your work and your recent developments in
these matters?</p>
<p>Marc<br>
</p>
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<br>
You are welcome, Marc.<br>
<br>
Regarding your question on personal research etc., regrettably,
most, if not all works are prohibited from release. Most in our
positions toil 'behind the scenes', on "getting hard problems
addressed" correctly, rather than to spend time on publishing, or
toward speaking at conferences. However, in recent years, the
opportunity for greater public intellectual exchange has become
possible.<br>
<br>
I conclude that we have to collectively be looking at new vistas in
order to gain a better understanding of "Privacy" and "Security" as
a whole. Toward that goal, I have attached a slide (on Barfield)
herewith, from a slide-deck I had shared at a conference last year
in Melbourne.<br>
<br>
Additionally, if you have specific interests, and it is possible, I
shall be happy to point you in directions that are available. <br>
--<br>
<font color="#b3b3b3"><i>Dr. Robert Mathews, D.Phil.<br>
Principal Technologist &<br>
</i><i>Distinguished Senior Research Scholar</i><i><br>
</i><i>Office of Scientific Inquiry & Applications (OSIA)</i><i><br>
</i><i>University of Hawai'i</i></font><br>
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