Re: zero-knowledge protocols

["Rochester TOR Admin" <onionroutor@xxxxxxxxx>]

Damn - that IS a much better example.  I knew when I used PETA it was
going to set off the Bad Example Alert again!  :)

ROC Tor Admin


On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 6:25 AM, Scott Bennett <bennett@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>      On Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:05:07 -0400 "Rochester TOR Admin"
>  <onionroutor@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>  >I'm having a hard time understanding a lot of what you're saying but I
>
> >think I understand the goal which is specifically to root out
>
> >terrorists in this case to help investigators find terrorists. You can
>  >refer to Roger's link above as to why Tor will never do that.
>  >
>  >>  > 2) Or about a system which allows investigators to answer their questions
>  >>  > without shutting the Tor node down and confiscating the hardware?
>  >>
>  >>  Zero-knowledge software should complement tor so to let the server
>  >>  administrators establish that the investigators are those who pretend to be,
>  >>  are behind a real case and are legally empowered to probe this or that.
>  >
>
> >So, if you decide that an investigation is illegal, are you knowingly
>  >going to withhold the information to grant them access to the server?
>
> >In most jurisdictions [especially those that would be most likely be
>  >in this situation], it is illegal to do this and you would be forced
>  >to provide access to the server either way.
>  >
>  >Even so, from a larger view, you would not want a tor administrator to
>  >be put in the situation of choosing when he or she should allow an
>  >investigator to access their server.  For example, I decide to grant
>  >police access when they are searching for a pedophile and not when
>  >searching for an oppressed citizen in china but what about a person
>  >that is in the grey like a white hat hacker or PETA activist that are
>  >doing things illegal but not unethical in the eyes of the admin?
>  >
>      Bzzzt!!  Bad example alert:  PETA is to ALF what Sinn Fein is to
>  the IRA.  Supposedly, it would be the other way around, i.e., PETA and
>  Sinn Fein (allegedly) avoid illegal activity themselves, but provide
>  above-ground propaganda to the world regarding their respective
>  terrorist sister organizations, which *do* act illegally.  Some tor
>  server operators may privately agree with the terrorist activities,
>  though I would sincerely hope that they are in the tiniest minority.
>
>
>                                   Scott Bennett, Comm. ASMELG, CFIAG
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>  * Internet:       bennett at cs.niu.edu                              *
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