Adam Dick

If we put our faith in technology company Apple, the United States courts, or the US Congress to protect our privacy, we may well find ourselves sorely disappointed. That is the message of Ron Paul Institute Senior Fellow Adam Dick in a newly released interview on the Wake Up Call Podcast.

Speaking with hosts Adam Camac and Daniel Laguros, Dick explores the legislative and judicial battle over whether the US government can require Apple and other companies to help the government access individuals’ private electronic information that is protected by passcodes, encryption, and other security measures.

While Apple is taking a turn as privacy hero in some recent court disputes, Dick notes the company also has a history of aiding the government in accessing private information on electronic devices.

In the federal courts, a New York magistrate judge has received much attention for his rejection of a US government request that Apple be required to help breach the security of an iPhone connected to a criminal investigation. However, Dick explains that this judge also suggests there would be no problem with courts routinely issuing such orders, if only Congress would pass some new legislation on the matter.

Over in Congress, some legislators are rushing forward with declarations that they want to protect privacy, encryption, and electronic devices’ security measures. But, can we trust Congress to protect our private information from government snooping? Dick addresses how Congress’ recent track record on restricting government snooping is not so hot. Congress’ reform effort in response to whistle-blower Edward Snowden’s revelations of the great extent of the US government’s mass surveillance program, for example, resulted in the USA FREEDOM Act that allows the mass surveillance to continue instead of ending it.

These are some of the issues, among many, Dick discusses in the in-depth podcast interview. You can listen to the complete interview here:

Find links to articles and resources mentioned in the interview here on the on the Wake Up Call Podcast website.

Reprinted with permission from the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.

Former New Jersey State Judge Andrew Napolitano says in a new video editorial that it is part of Hillary Clinton’s “continuing pattern of lying” to claim her actions related to her private email server while she was United States secretary of state were not criminal and were like actions taken by her predecessors in the office. Napolitano further explains that Clinton’s claim seems wrong in two ways. First, her actions appear to be criminal. Second, her predecessors did nothing like what she did.

Continue reading at the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) is “the ultimate protector” of United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) torture criminals, writes College of William & Marry Professor Lawrence Wilkerson in a powerful Thursday editorial in The Charlotte Observer.

Wilkerson, an Academic Board member of the Ron Paul Institute and a retired US Army colonel, discusses in the editorial how Burr has sought to keep the US government’s torture activities hidden from public view. Instead of ensuring oversight and accountability as the committee chairman, Burr has, Wilkerson concludes, been aiding a cover-up that even encourages US presidential candidates to depict torture as desirable instead of as a despicable criminal activity.

Continue reading at the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.

Ron Paul Institute Chairman Ron Paul declared on Fox Business Tuesday that he opposes any compromise of liberty in the face of US government efforts to defeat encryption used to protect Americans’ private information.

Continue reading at the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.

As Americans voted in the Super Tuesday elections, former US House of Representatives member and three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul threw some cold water on hopes that the US presidential election will usher in significant change for the better. Paul, a guest of host Adam Boulton on Sky News, concluded a seven minutes analysis of various candidates in the presidential race, and even potential new contender former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, by stating, “No matter who wins in this country, believe me, there will be no change in overall policy, I am convinced.”

Continue reading at the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.