IN-Q-TEL ... First Facebook, NOW LINUX?! (CIA coOPT)

[TargeT]

Hard to say if this is nefarious or not, any secret funding program is questionable in my mind.



http://www.linuxjournal.com/files/linuxjournal.com/ufiles/u1000009/elkbuntu-FBI-Dude-3-300px.png
It's fair to say that the interests of governments and the FOSS community are not always aligned. That's not to say that the US government is out to crush every FOSS project or that every FOSS user is on a secret mission to destroy the government. Nonetheless, the relationship is often a strained one.

So it shouldn't be surprising that the Open Source community gets a little restless when it learns that the government has its hands in an open-source project—particularly when we discover it's secretly pouring money into the pockets of developers to develop features it requires. And, when the government agency in question is the CIA—well, you can understand why some feathers are rustled.

It shouldn't be surprising to learn that the CIA is a big investor in tech development. After all, if there's one thing we've learned from spy movies and TV, it's that spies love their gadgets.

But although the movies may show us scenes of secret underground laboratories, the truth is that developing technology from scratch is expensive. Just like any large organization, the CIA usually prefers to use an off-the-shelf solution when it's available. But what does it do when the solution it needs isn't ready to ship? What if the team developing the project is struggling to secure the funding it needs to bring its product to the market?

If there's a suitable commercial project in development, the answer is venture capital. The CIA has its own venture capital branch called In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel's mission is to get the required technology into the hands of the CIA's analysts and agents as soon as possible. It does that by using its money to support the R and D costs of public companies who are working on similar products.

Of course, as Silicon Valley continues to embrace open source, that means a number of open-source projects actually are funded by the CIA. Docker is one example of a high-profile open-source firm that was secretly funded by the CIA.

Given the recent FBI demands to insert back doors into iPhones to "help investigate criminals", you can understand why some privacy advocates are worried as to how much control the CIA exerts over some of these projects.

Of course, adding a back door to Docker would be quite hit-and-miss as a spying strategy. It seems more likely to me that the CIA wants to steer the project to meet its own container needs. And, it could be that the CIA is so steeped in secrecy that "covertly" funding development is merely an extension of its modus operandi.

But even if spying on end users isn't the goal, another concern is that projects like Docker could be steered in the wrong direction. Ideally, the features added to Docker should reflect the needs and desires of the community. But when a backer like In-Q-Tel starts throwing huge stacks of money at the board to get the features it wants, there's a real risk that genuine requests from the community will be ignored.

That said, there are cases where the community has benefited from work by the government. Tor is an example of one such project—it was originally developed by the US Navy. Now it's an essential privacy tool. Whistleblowers and private citizens all over the world depend on it to protect them from government surveillance.

And, there are cases where a lack of funding means useful open-source tools are abandoned before they are fully developed. Often investors are cautious to spend money on a product that will be given away for free.

What's your take on the CIA funding the development of open-source software? Do you have concerns, or do you feel it's beneficial to the community? Let us know in the comments area below.
https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/open-source-project-secretly-funded-cia

[Carmody]

The internet itself is such a beast.

I explained once, here, how it was bought into being.

I met one of the original atlas missile program engineers, and he explained how it happened. I received a first hand report in the details (face to face).

To clarify, the Atlas engineers were defying all the rules of the authority that was overseeing the program. They could not get the rockets to work, unless they communicated with one another. They were not allowed to communicate, everything was explicitly and forcibly compartmentalized.

So they proceeded to find ways to sneak around and transfer data and other pertinent information around the entire globe, to and fro, from the various offices involved...all while they were being watched.

Some of you may have heard the story, but it was interesting to hear it from one of the original principals of the entire process. The kind of details that were probably not very well known.

Some of the tech available to them...was very interesting...like 64 bit telecommunication data pathways, back then.


~~~~~~~~~~~

This part will be very telling, for some. Some will not understand, and will not understand the implications:

The fear of inter-dimensional interference and observation was very real, for the person I was speaking with. (or observation/interaction by hardware and means which would be indistinguishable from such, for the average person)

Basically, in the location we spoke in, and were speaking and having a great time/moment....a small bit of a random tipping of an object took place. Directly behind us. No-one was anywhere near us, before or during our conversation.

It freaked the hell out of him.

He nearly ran.

It's in moments like that..where stories from Bob Dean, Phil Schneider, Bill Deagle, Dan Burisch and so on..where those stories get a bit more...real.

For me, in that moment, it meant..just about nothing. If it was not a real thing, then being distracted by it ----was meaningless.

If it was a real thing, then being distracted by it was also meaningless, as I would then be accessible anywhere and anywhen. A reality, which would be taken on...and..would..by dint of logical deduction, reduction, and conclusion...powerfully empower ME.

For example, lets say a reptilian (pick one, Sasquatch, classic alien, dimensional shiftier, whatever) appears before you. No need to be afraid ...and actually, it should make you laugh hysterically and relax... relax more than you've ever been capable of relaxing... as then..... you would KNOW that reality is not what your fearful body tells you it is and all, I mean ALL freaking bets are OFF*. And EVERYTHING..is open. No controls, no limits. Exactly as the Buddhists tell you: "I am god, you are god, this is god."


*All the limits, as fears...are expressions of the body and flesh. If the flesh, and it's control and coloration/control of thought/expression is banished to a secondary or third level function via knowing...... what happens then? The answer is: explosive levels of growth and expansion of personal power and reach.

Essentially, the takeaway and further logical reduction says: In order to be controlled by your body's fears... as the very vast majority of humans are now... they must possess no knowledge and no pathways to knowledge. All doors must be blocked and locked. Look around you. What do you see?

Anyway, I went a bit tangential, it's a full moon in April, one of a specific nature. Forgive me, but, regardless... I appear to be addressing the moon subject at hand.

Regarding the CIA and funding, I know we like to be a bit paranoid ---and have sound historical record and reasons for being so.

The good side is that many of these people are... just people...and they do get around and do things....just like those atlas missile program scientists and engineers. And some good does come of it.

But the watchful eye and raised sword is required to never rest, as the gods know ---theirs won't.

[TargeT]

Essentially, the takeaway and further logical reduction says: In order to be controlled by your body's fears... as the very vast majority of humans are now... they must possess no knowledge and no pathways to knowledge.

There are otherways than tapping into knowing also...

I do it... but I'm pretty sure I do it via ignorance ;)

I'm an above average horse trainer/rider/handler... yet I never had been around horses until 3 years ago (I now own or take care of 22). How did this happen? I'm not afraid of them; I've never been hurt by them, sure I hear the stories, but I don't see it for myself so it doesn't exist. (pragmatic ignorance? instinct? hard to say....)

I apply this to many other aspects of life as well, probably not the best way; but it certainly has "done me right". (I suppose that's just an expression of duality though, nothing is one sided and nearly everything can be accomplished via more than just one path to completion).

Regarding the CIA and funding, I know we like to be a bit paranoid ---and have sound historical record and reasons for being so.

The good side is that many of these people are... just people...and they do get around and do things....just like those atlas missile program scientists and engineers. And some good does come of it.

But the watchful eye and raised sword is required to never rest, as the gods know ---theirs won't.

The only reason I question the funding is this:

(you'd have to read the article, I worded my original post in... not hte best way). The Open Source community was suppose to be a "grass roots" movement,, this is why UNIX costs money and LINUX is free (due to Open Source programmers and the GNU project). The CIA funding the Open Source project is (IMO) just anohter CO-OP; same as we have seen time after time... it's a typical M.O. and THAT worries me even if I cannot see the end state right now.