Jimmy Wales Threatens To Obstruct UK Government Snooping 198
judgecorp writes "Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has threatened to encrypt communications between Wikipedia and UK users in order to frustrate the proposed Communications Bill, known as the Snooper's Charter, which would give the UK government the right to routinely track citizens' web and phone use. Wales was addressing the committee which is scrutinising the Bill before it is considered by Parliament."
Why not just do it? (Score:5, Interesting)
I understand that wikipedia is a non-profit and has limited resources, but why not just do it? This doesn't seem like a radical stance at all. This should be on their roadmap. Given wikipedia history of taking sides on issues like this, they should be pioneers in doing this sort of thing.
Plain text HTTP is on its way to becoming a legacy protocol.
Not a threat, just a statement (Score:3, Interesting)
From what I read of TFA, it doesn't look like Jimbo is actually making a threat. He's just saying "Your idea sucks because I, and any competent server operator, could bypass it in 30 seconds."
Re:Why not just do it? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Why not just do it? (Score:5, Interesting)
That's gotta at least increase the wattage. Nothing is ever really free though in 2012 you'd think crypto would be dirt cheap. If your 20 year old computer can do it...
Re:Explain me? SSL is not sufficient? (Score:4, Interesting)
people with more knowledge please correct me...
from my understanding your ISP can use a transparent proxy (so without your knowledge, or actually make you use a web proxy) and be able to see your data even in SSL. This is how websense gateway product works. they actually use it as a selling point to be able to scan ssl based web email that may include confidential documents as attachments.