And, based on that, we have to assume that we’re going to see some interesting reactions. Obviously, the majors have already banded together to protest this NSA nonsense - albeit in a kind of pansy-assed, ‘we want to be on a committee, or working group, or something’ way. But now? Now, they’re not gonna want to play so nice. I’m 100% certain there will be the threat of further legal tests, but we have to also consider how the .gov will respond.
I would bet the feds WILL offer some tasty deals in exchange for these wealthy companies backing off.(And if they follow their usual style, all the while denying publicly that there’s a problem at all.) And those companies have to decide which way to jump. They don’t make a good team, really - they are competitors to each other. But they’ve done the usual industry workaround before - IEEE, etc. A third party action group to front it all. Thing is, it’s in OUR best interests for them to stay pissed and to feel that we will continue to support their products only as long as they behave well. And we need them! EFF and others can certainly bring suits and all. And that’s great - even better, if they all join hands and sing ‘We Shall Overcome’ while they’re kicking some Justice Dept butt.
But these companies are unbelievably wealthy. They can out-budget even the NSA. They can afford WAY more than EFF, ACLU, or any other private group. So, they can afford to challenge and lobby and produce PR in ways private citizens can’t even hope to do. We need them in this fight, and badly. So just hope and pray they are totally pissed and looking for a reckoning!
