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NSA Pal AT&T Mocks The Privacy Conscious
Someone in marketing picks a poor time to make a funny...
04:03PM Monday Jun 30 2008 by Karl Bode
tags: business · wireless · telco · privacy · Oddities
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Given that it's alleged that AT&T funnels absolutely all of your phone and Internet data directly to the NSA without a warrant or oversight, their marketing decision to make light of those worried about privacy in a new ad for online billing has bloggers complaining (see Boing Boing, GigaOM, Consumerist) about poor taste. Honestly it doesn't seem like that big of a deal, though AT&T's marketing probably should have chosen a different subject to make light of given the national debate.

Besides, I always say that if you've got nothing to hide, you've got no reason to fear the government shock troops in their shiny black body armor -- currently downstairs embedding an HSDPA-supported monitoring chip in junior's skull.

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Forums » NSA Pal AT&T Mocks The Privacy Conscious
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drslash
Goya Asma
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join:2002-02-18
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Atta boy, Karl

"Besides, I always say that if you've got nothing to hide, you've got no reason to fear the government shock troops in their black kevlar body suits, who are currently downstairs embedding an HSDPA-supported monitoring chip in junior's skull."

That'll keep up your credibility, Karl.
--
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adisor19

join:2004-10-11
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Re: Atta boy, Karl

said by drslash See Profile :

"Besides, I always say that if you've got nothing to hide, you've got no reason to fear the government shock troops in their black kevlar body suits, who are currently downstairs embedding an HSDPA-supported monitoring chip in junior's skull."

That'll keep up your credibility, Karl.
LOL it's humour dude. I for one approve of the message that Karl is inserting in there

Adi
cafields

join:2003-12-17
Muncie, IN

edit:
June 30th, @07:02PM

Re: Atta boy, Karl

I've never respected anyone who uses lol or dude, it shows your lack of intelligence. It's not sarcasm or humour, I can tell that karl is showing his true beleifs.

MattE
Obama '08
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Re: Atta boy, Karl

said by cafields See Profile :

I've never respected anyone who uses lol or dude, it shows your lack of intelligence. It's not sarcasm or humour, I can tell that karl is showing his true beleifs.
As opposed to say, not capitalizing a proper noun and misspelling words?

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
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said by cafields See Profile :

I've never respected anyone who uses lol or dude, it shows your lack of intelligence. It's not sarcasm or humour, I can tell that karl is showing his true beleifs.
I've never respected anyone who can't spell and use punctuation, it shows their lack of intelligence.

*Note: Sarcasm only. I really don't say stuff like that, I just wanted to point out the sheer hypocrisy of someone who would insult the intelligence of someone based on a post using some common online slang when they can't even spell or word their own post properly...

--
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MattE
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Re: Atta boy, Karl

said by KrK See Profile :

said by cafields See Profile :

I've never respected anyone who uses lol or dude, it shows your lack of intelligence. It's not sarcasm or humour, I can tell that karl is showing his true beleifs.
I've never respected anyone who can't spell and use punctuation, it shows their lack of intelligence.

*Note: Sarcasm only. I really don't say stuff like that, I just wanted to point out the sheer hypocrisy of someone who would insult the intelligence of someone based on a post using some common online slang when they can't even spell or word their own post properly...
I'm with you. I never point out stuff like that as English may not be the posters first language, but in this case it was called for.

nice1mrperfect

@verizon.net

Re: Atta boy, Karl

BELIEF to be spelled B-E-L-I-E-F not beleif. MattE

Try to practice what you preach before you start at the pulpit.

MoeDumb
"America Si, Obama No."
Premium
join:2002-09-23
Bronx, NY

said by adisor19 See Profile :

LOL it's humour dude. I for one approve of the message that Karl is inserting in there

Ditto.
Attaboy, Karl!
--
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AnnaS8

join:2005-05-26
Annapolis, MD
Am I the only one who saw the sarcasm in that statement?

CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County

Re: Atta boy, Karl

It certainly did not take a stretch if the imagination to see the obvious sarcasm...

drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA

I saw it. However, it doesn't qualify as sarcasm when it comes from such a bitter partisan as Karl. He is supposed to be reporting news on the front page but can't help himself to editorialize. Karl is free to do that and I am free to criticize him for it. The swift cleaver of censorship will make everything better...deleted by moderator.
--
Save water...drink beer!
AnnaS8

join:2005-05-26
Annapolis, MD

Re: Atta boy, Karl

Yeah...ok Pay no mind to the men with the white jacket. They are your friends. They are bringing you to the farm where life is wonderful all the time.
jarthur31

join:2006-04-14
Carlsbad, NM

Re: Atta boy, Karl

Haha like that 1 episode of the Simpsons where Homer falls in line/love with "The Leader". xD

Transmaster
Onward Through The Fog

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY


edit:
June 30th, @05:09PM

Give Karl a break his is pissed off because somebody leaked an advanced photo of the get-up he was going to wear at the Yesterdays Gay Pride Parade in New York City. Karl knows it just had to be the NSA that leaked this information.
--
Send a prayer to Allah, eat Beans.
james1

join:2001-02-26
antarctica
[BQUOTE=drslashThat'll keep up your credibility, Karl.
[/BQUOTE

Way to blow your own.

KrK
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said by drslash See Profile :

That'll keep up your credibility, Karl.
H-U-M-O-R. Look it up sometime....

I swear the Karl bashers look for any excuse to pounce.

Skeedatl
Ah, push it - push it real good
Premium
join:2007-12-26
The Cloud

Quite a leap

The leap between this ad and it somehow making fun of those whining about AT&T's NSA links would do Evel Knievel proud.
AnnaS8

join:2005-05-26
Annapolis, MD

Re: Quite a leap

So making fun of someone for wanting to keep their private info private is ok then? These days with identity theft, corporate spamming and selling lists to 3rd parties being a real concern I don't see where it is a joke to not have people other then those you have given permission to have your info to have it.

Skeedatl
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edit:
June 30th, @04:36PM

Re: Quite a leap

No guy, that is ad for online bill pay is making fun of anyone is the leap. You can look at any online billing services and they'll have sections assuring those concerned about providing banking info online that their online payment systems are secure.
AnnaS8

join:2005-05-26
Annapolis, MD

Re: Quite a leap

Yeah calling her Ms Suspicious and having the look of paranoia on her face has nothing to do with it. (smirk)

That alone makes fun of anyone who is security conscious.

Skeedatl
Ah, push it - push it real good
Premium
join:2007-12-26
The Cloud

Re: Quite a leap

Oh brother. What a bunch of whining pussies Americans have become.

AT&T isn't making fun of anyone, especially those they're trying to get to sign up for Online Bill Pay service.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: Quite a leap

Sure... I use online bill pay, just not theirs. Its much nicer to use a bank bill pay than multiple 3rd party systems that tie into my bank account.
--
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MyDogHsFleas
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Re: Quite a leap

said by en102 See Profile :

Sure... I use online bill pay, just not theirs. Its much nicer to use a bank bill pay than multiple 3rd party systems that tie into my bank account.
I actually went the other way... I find it easier to give each of my providers my account number and authorize auto withdrawals. This gives several advantages:

- the bill is always paid on time, and if it's not, it's their fault, not my bank's

- the bill is always paid on exactly the due date, but I get the float until it actually hits my account

- it's one less party to worry about in the transaction. I don't have to deal with a billpayer service in addition to my bank and the supplier.

The risk, of course, is that by spreading your account information around, there's more chance of theft and loss. I mitigate that risk by checking and balancing my account daily, so if anything does happen, I'll catch it right away and can take action.

Skeedatl
Ah, push it - push it real good
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Re: Quite a leap

Problem is, if they (the telco or whoever) screws up your billing, they got your money and you have to fight to get it back. With banking bill pay you hold the money over their heads and pay what you think is the correct amount.
MyDogHsFleas
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Re: Quite a leap

said by Skeedatl See Profile :

Problem is, if they (the telco or whoever) screws up your billing, they got your money and you have to fight to get it back. With banking bill pay you hold the money over their heads and pay what you think is the correct amount.
I've never had a problem having a company issue credits when they had a billing error and collected too much money. You just have to call and point out the error. Usually they fall over backwards to satisfy me in cases like this, is my experience. Maybe it's because I don't act like a jackass when I call them, but just state my problem in terms that they can understand and solve.

Skeedatl
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Re: Quite a leap

In my case, Time Warner Cable double billed me and it took me 4 months to get my money back. I also had my mortgage holder take 2 payments the same day and what a nightmare that was.

Since then I don't autopay anything or have online billing with anyone but my bank.
MyDogHsFleas
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Re: Quite a leap

said by Skeedatl See Profile :

In my case, Time Warner Cable double billed me and it took me 4 months to get my money back. I also had my mortgage holder take 2 payments the same day and what a nightmare that was.

Since then I don't autopay anything or have online billing with anyone but my bank.
I'd probably feel the same way as you if anything like that happened to me. Like I said, I've never had a problem getting immediate credits.

Did you consider going to (or at least filing with) small claims court? That's what I'd do if I didn't get satisfaction. Four months is ridiculous.

Skeedatl
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Re: Quite a leap

I didn't consider small claims 'cause I was told I couldn't get back lost wages from my time spent in court. I would have lost more money taking the day off than they owed me. I eventually got it fixed and just cancelled the online bill pay (and eventually their service all together in the case of TWC).

Random Outlaw

@comcast.net

1984 a few days late?

War is Peace!

Freedom is Slavery!

Ignorance is Strength!

MrMoody
Under the black helicopters

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Re: 1984 a few days late?

Here's a few more the elite have been more successful at getting people to believe.

Spying is Security!

Fear is Guilt!

Control is Safety!

Indoctrination is Education!

Drugs are Health!

Greed is Good!
--
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
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She Does Have Something To Hide

The damn Apple Logo.

Sheesh ad's are sooo pathetic..
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Mr Matt

join:2008-01-29
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Americans are behaving like Sheep on the way to slaughter!

The GOP is reviving the policies of tricky Dick Nixon. Remember how Nixon's operative broke into the Democratic offices in the Watergate Office Building to spy on the Democrats. With unsupervised wiretapping no longer does the incumbent party have to physically enter the opposing parties premises to spy on them, all the incumbent party has to do is PICK UP THE PHONE AND LISTEN. How quickly we forget how the Greedy Old Pigs arranged for the firing of American Citizens that attended King Georges "Town Home Meetings" during the 2004 Presidential Campaign and asked the wrong questions. With unsupervised wiretapping say the wrong thing to someone over the phone and your out. The Executive Branch of our Government has demonstrated a willingness to use the Attorney Generals office to attack those that oppose the Administrations policies. The President has demanded that the AG's office investigate and prosecute innocent citizens with the objective of incarcerating them for the purpose of keeping their mouths shut. One Governor was recently released from prison when a judge determined that there had not been enough evidence provided by the prosecutor to incarcerate him. Karl Rove wants to turn this country into a dictatorship with the GOP's minions permanently in control. Unsupervised wiretapping gives the incumbent party tremendous power to identify and find reasons to discredit the opposing party. All American Citizens should contact their Legislators and demand that they turn down immunity for the Phone Companies that violated the wiretapping laws.

drslash
Goya Asma
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join:2002-02-18
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Coming right out of the woodwork

You are coming unhinged...
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Mr Matt

join:2008-01-29
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Re: Coming right out of the woodwork

I wish I was unhinged because that would mean that what I said in my post was untrue. Unfortunately those issues are not untrue and can be confirmed through the various media channels.

drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA

Re: Coming right out of the woodwork

All of it is untrue. If it was true you wouldn't have been able to reply, you would have been silenced already and detained without a lawyer

You can't even shake your fist and stamp your feet about Karl Rove anymore. In case you haven't heard from "the various media channels" Karl Rove is no longer an employee of the executive branch.
--
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zachary1
you talkin' to me?

join:2004-03-07
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Re: Americans are behaving like Sheep on the way to slaughter!

Is that an ad to vote Democrat?
Mr Matt

join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

Re: Americans are behaving like Sheep on the way to slaughter!

I am sorry it sounds like I was making a pitch for the Democrats but I had as much disdain for the deceitful methods used by the Johnson Administration, while LBJ was in office.

RaulF

@spcsdns.net

ATT pfff

Well what do can expect it is ATT. While i have nothing to hide, i don't see what anyone should have access to my personal life style for any reason at anytime. Well all you yappies enjoy your Federal locked iphone lol.

mikepd
Discovery
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Re: ATT pfff

said by RaulF :

Well all you yappies enjoy your Federal locked iphone lol.
You mean Steve Jobs locked Iphone. The Feds have nothing to do with it being locked, his Holiness Steve does.
--
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Kyle

join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH

Re: ATT pfff

True but ATT has their hands on it. Which means everything on it will be sent back to the Feds. Which means its a federally locked phone as well.

You don't see T-Mobile doing the tunnels.

fatness
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text



"Well, she has a little to hide, but her love of Online Billing isn't one of them."
I guess they'd know.

GlobalMind
Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy
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Hey afterall..

They're from the government, and they're here to help.

MyDogHsFleas
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Karl, of course, misses the mark in several ways

(1) This ad is not about wiretapping, much less making fun of the privacy conscious. It's about addressing consumers' concerns about online billing and payments. This particular character is addressing the consumer who is suspicious that things entered on the Internet will be stolen or used in ways she doesn't want. It's trying to reassure her that AT&T will keep her data safe and private.

(2) The issue of AT&T and its relationship with the US government with respect to national security really does not have traction out there in the real world. It's way down in the weeds on the list of things the voting public worries about. To think that this ad is about that issue, or that anyone outside this particular segment of the blogosphere here would make that link, is what the psychologists call "projection". In the real world, consumers are worried about identity theft, losing their money, or getting put on marketing lists for spam, phone calls, and letters. That is what AT&T is addressing with these ads.

(3) Karl keeps pounding on his point that "AT&T funnels all of YOUR phone and Internet data DIRECTLY to the NSA with NO WARRANT OR OVERSIGHT", like a big, stupid lumberjack banging away at a tree. Overlooked is the fact that NO ONE REALLY KNOWS exactly what's going on, but reason would suggest that it is nothing close to what Karl "alleges". This is simple demagoguery.

NoImage

@conversent.net

No Image

Either that "screenshot" was Photoshop'ed or AT&T has already taken down the image. Going to the URL shown in the link brings you to a page that has the same text, but no image.
SuperWISP

join:2007-04-17
Laramie, WY

AT&T was not mocking anyone.

That ad -- for online billing, for Heaven's sake! -- was designed to reassure people that it was safe and secure to receive your bill online. It was likely crafted by an ad agency who never thought for a second that anyone would try to conflate it with illegal wiretapping by the Bush Administration.

drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA

Re: AT&T was not mocking anyone.

Karl and Justin have a radical left wing agenda. They purport to provide industry news on the front page of DSLR. All they are doing is editorializing to their own ends when ever they get the chance. They are free to do this. I highly doubt either one is a credentialed journalist or a student of journalism. They are hacks who control the content of a web site to their liking.
--
Save water...drink beer!

AZ_OGM

join:2007-01-12
Phoenix, AZ

Re: AT&T was not mocking anyone.

Just like reputable sources like the National Review and Fox News?
SiliconBandt

join:2008-05-24
Winnipeg, MB

demographics ftw

Oh please, it has nothing to do with security agencies wanting to know everything you're doing...

It really gets forwarded to government-sponsored marketting agencies who make the government money by knowing what you're doing
Forums » NSA Pal AT&T Mocks The Privacy Conscious


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