Public Echelon

I assume you heard about Echelon. The project to tap into all our communication and scan for keywords for the safety of us all, managed by our favourite intelligence agencies.

I like that idea a lot. What I don't like is that they are hiding the results. I want to see what their software finds when they are tapping into all my communication. Am I an enemy of the state? Unlikely, but if I try I want to see how I am doing.

For those who like to play with their privacy, you set up an SMTP server where all the mail that registered users send and receive passes. The server scans this e-mail for keywords from a standard list or a personalised list. For each user a special URL is given where everyone can read your e-mail. Not every message, that's too boring, just the statistics. How many times the word sex, privacy, password, mp3, etc.

This is entertaining in many ways. It gives you a way to show your personality without any extra effort. It shows other sides of yourself than through your webcam. Less labour intensive than imood.com. For advertisers it's also interesting. If a user is mentioning RAM and iBook suddenly he is apparently shopping around for that. Make him an offer he can't refuse. Personalised SPAM! Finally.

Outgoing e-mail is rated higher than incoming off course. I don't want to be associated with the content of all the SPAM messages I receive.

ReindeR