Apparently, there has been significant spying on email accounts, search results, Skype, video calls, and social media of the Americans. This comes as a shock to many who are under the impression that they should retain their own privacy. This entire surveying thing is made possible by prism, which is clandestine mass electronic surveillance data mining program of the US government.
It has been in existence since 2007 and has been operated by United States National Security Agency (NSA). Its code name for data collection that is known by the SIGAD US-984XN is PRISM. It collects stored internet communications based on demands made to internet providers.
Do the NSA Revelations Impact Businesses?
This is what most people asked when news on NSA started spreading, when people started talking about the dangers that these disclosures pose to businesses. The truth is if people were less concerned about this whole surveying thing, it would mean that even if one is not a criminal, he/she should not mind being treated like one.
A good example is a tuna fisherman. If he catches millions of dolphins on his net for every tuna that he brought back, he would never get another chance to leave the port again. So, how can anyone justify government’s act of spying on millions of individuals around the world in an attempt of catching just a few criminals?
News are spreading with people arguing on whether NSA spying is a big deal or not, whether it is only more of a status quo, dangerous or a slippery slope that people are being made aware of. In the rouse of learning of their total lack of privacy, world’s reaction ranges from indifference to absolute atrocity.
Seemingly, most Americans are indifferent to the idea while other people from all over the world are furious. The impacts are more to lack of privacy since such spying endangered businesses, both small and big ones; not only in the US but the world over.
How bad is NSA’s surveying bad for the businesses?
Here are some of the reasons as to why American government act of spying on people is bad news to businesses all over the world:
First and foremost, people should understand that when the government is compiling your data in their data centers, every individual relies on them to keep the data safe and confidential. With what is going on currently, people’s privacy is minimized since NSA spies on each and every person and privacy is not guaranteed; since they hack computers and one may find that even the most confidential information has leaked to the public. This is very dangerous to businesses.
Businesses data may contain crucial things like passwords to your website, cupcake recipes, and even millions of dollars worth research and trade secrets that might be leaked to competitors who might use the information to their advantage. Some businesses tries harder to keep their networks secure to ensure their information is never leaked but once the data is hacked while in the hands of NSA it can lead to collapse of the business. Just consider all possible implications.
Should people trust NSA to keep data safely?
If the government could fail to keep data safe from a “high school drop out” as media refers to Ed Snowden, how can they guarantee the public and business owners that they will manage to safely keep trade secrets and sensitive data from competitors?
How about 5 to 10 years from now? We cannot ignore the fact that technology is evolving at a fast rate and very soon people will be able to hack even the most complicated account.
Currently, American tech companies have been world’s leaders with companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft being at the front of computer and technology industry. However, NSA spying threatens their success just like what they did to manufacturing companies some years back.
Since June 2013, hope in US technology related companies has been shattered with business owners worrying about their future in the industry.
NSA has been caught up in lies. First, they claimed ignorance of any government spying only to come out later and claim that they were under gag orders. But as people are becoming more aware of the whole spying issue, they are now forced to east their own words.
Majority of people now don’t trust what they say. Due to the fact that most people feel NSA re not reliable, this act may affect android users or window laptop users or even scare them away from the platform. This is dangerous to businesses since when entire nation starts criticizing US tech industry; they will start looking for ways to do away with American digital services and this can be a real problem.
Act by the laws of the country
One thing that most people do not know yet is that when one is storing data online, home country laws are not the ones that apply but instead the laws of the country where data is located. For businessmen who travels from time to time, storing their data on the cloud when traveling was supposed to be a relieve due to the fact that there was risks of carrying all important data on a hard drive which might get lost at any given time. Everyone stored data on cloud to avoid risking being wrongly seized, searched or dealing with corrupt government.
Storing data in the cloud was to simplify everything but one should understand that cloud data plays by the law of the country where the servers are located. For this reason, companies from other countries are now taking advantage of the situation to woo Americans since they no longer trust US data centers.
MacquarieTelecom, a service provider to the Australian government is currently exploiting on the fact that most people are hesitant to store their data in US with more companies following suit. Apparently, there has been an increase in demand for cloud storage and other business services that are not related to America. This video tries to depict this issue:
It is now clear that PRISM is disastrous to the businesses
This is serious; the consequences of NSA spying are really bad for businesses in the US. This is because it nurtures an increased sense of mistrust and we all know that trust is very crucial in every aspect of life. This issue is also bad to businesses from all over the world that rely on US companies in safeguarding their data.
Effects of this act of US government will trickle down to smaller businesses. Honestly, why should anyone spend a fortune on data safety when it will end up in the government’s hands, and one will have no control over it?
Media might have tried to paint Edward Snowden in a negative way saying that he was unqualified but the truth is that it does not tell us about those people he was working for. How can unlearned individual have that much contact to delicate data and info? Let us open our eyes to see what is right before us!
Previous coverage:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/11/do-the-nsa-revelations-impact-businesses-hint-yes/