Optic Nerve: millions of Yahoo webcam images intercepted by GCHQ

Carruthers · 02-28-2014, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Britain's surveillance agency GCHQ, with aid from the US National Security Agency, intercepted and stored the webcam images of millions of internet users not suspected of wrongdoing, secret documents reveal.

GCHQ files dating between 2008 and 2010 explicitly state that a surveillance program codenamed Optic Nerve collected still images of Yahoo webcam chats in bulk and saved them to agency databases, regardless of whether individual users were an intelligence target or not.

In one six-month period in 2008 alone, the agency collected webcam imagery – including substantial quantities of sexually explicit communications – from more than 1.8 million Yahoo user accounts globally.

The complete article.

I wish to make it clear that I am not now, nor have I ever been, a Yahoo webcam account holder

Sundae · 02-28-2014, 09:27 AM

Am I glad now I've never shaken my titties on Yahoo!?
Well, maybe. They'd have reached a wider audience than I realised, if I had.

glatt · 02-28-2014, 09:35 AM

The takeaway, other than all the spying on citizens BS, is that 7.1% of Yahoo webcam traffic contained nudity.

7.1% !!!

Gravdigr · 02-28-2014, 11:17 AM

I would have expected a higher percentage.

glatt · 02-28-2014, 11:33 AM

If these are "broadcasts," able to be viewed by multiple guys, then I'd also expect it to be that high, but if it's person to person, like Facetime, it seems high to me.

footfootfoot · 02-28-2014, 02:01 PM

I wonder when the whole set of images and videos will be available on the pirate bay? I'm probably gonna need a bigger hard drive

NoEdwonun · 03-02-2014, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Yahoo was not aware of the reported activity. “This report, if true, represents a whole new level of violation of our users’ privacy that is completely unacceptable,” Yahoo stated, adding that it is committed to preserving its users’ trust and security and will continue its efforts to expand encryption across all services.

http://goo.gl/bmyEMM

Yahoo claims that they have not been involved in spying. They will encrypt all future communication, which they should have done a long time ago.

02-28-2014, 09:27 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Am I glad now I've never shaken my titties on Yahoo!? Well, maybe. They'd have reached a wider audience than I realised, if I had. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

02-28-2014, 11:17 AM	#4
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I would have expected a higher percentage. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

02-28-2014, 02:01 PM	#6
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Optic Nerve: millions of Yahoo webcam images intercepted by GCHQ I wonder when the whole set of images and videos will be available on the pirate bay? I'm probably gonna need a bigger hard drive __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

02-28-2014, 09:35 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	The takeaway, other than all the spying on citizens BS, is that 7.1% of Yahoo webcam traffic contained nudity. 7.1% !!!

02-28-2014, 11:33 AM	#5
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	If these are "broadcasts," able to be viewed by multiple guys, then I'd also expect it to be that high, but if it's person to person, like Facetime, it seems high to me.

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