Sinister Cuteness: Selling The Surveillance State To Your Children
Michael S. Schmidt writes in The New York Times that the NSA has put a furry smiley face on its mission:
WASHINGTON -- The turtle wearing a hat backward, baggy jeans and purple sunglasses looks just like other cartoon characters that marketers use to make products like cereal and toys appealing to children.But the reptile, known as T. Top, who says creating and breaking codes is really "kewl," is pushing something far weightier: the benefits of the National Security Agency.
"In the world of diplomacy, knowing what your enemy is planning helps you to prepare," the turtle says. "But it is also important that your enemies do not know what you have planned. It is the mission of the National Security Agency and the Central Security Service to learn what it can about its potential enemies to protect America's government communications."
...With cartoon characters, interactive games and puzzles, the N.S.A.'s CryptoKids website for "future codemakers and codebreakers" tries to educate children about spying duties and recruit them to work for the agency.
As the website says: "It is never too early to start thinking about what you want to do when you grow up."
...And practicing, maybe by turning in your dad for that rolling stop.
Of course, what responsible parents really need to do is teach their kids to think, to value freedom, and to question authority.
via @LucyKafanov
For me, the WTF is: Why is the NSA authorized to spend money on children's games? Why do they have a PR department at all? Is this not a misappropriation of funds?
a_random_guy at January 25, 2014 1:48 AM
A_random, you are exactly right.
Amy Alkon at January 25, 2014 9:04 AM
I dunno, a_random_guy, the web site may be a front for an attack on your browser, giving the NSA an in to your computer.
Not to gain information on you, per se, but to add your machine to their botnet collection. I have to wonder: how many botnets does the US Government own? this gives them an attack vector which also gives them plausible deniability. Win-win, you see.
And will the FBI come knocking at more door for asking such an impertinent question?
I R A Darth Aggie at January 25, 2014 10:37 AM
"Central Security Service"? I've never heard of it... What new agency is this?
jefe at January 25, 2014 5:19 PM
"Sinister Cuteness"? I saw the title and thought I was going to read about Aida being naughty.
Patrick at January 25, 2014 7:16 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2014/01/sinister-cutene.html#comment-4221159">comment from Patrick"Sinister Cuteness"? I saw the title and thought I was going to read about Aida being naughty.
Hah - I like that.
Amy Alkon
at January 25, 2014 8:49 PM
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