Comments on: US State Department Backing “Shadow” Internet and Cellphone Projects

By: Rilan

Rilan — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:27:17 +0000

I am a teenager and I began DESIGNING this exact technology one year before it was announced that the government was doing the same. When I saw that the government had gotten to it first, I just about fainted. My goal was also to help dissidents, and I planned to make my fortune by selling it in the U.S. and then use the money to help fund revolutions worldwide. Think. Once you have the hardware, you no longer have to pay for a cell phone service or an ISP. Even everyday people could benefit from it…like Vogie said.

People laughed at my idea. They said it was impossible. Now I know that it is possible and is being used for the purpose I intended. The budget of 2 million dollars awed me. I planned to be a writer first to get the start-up money for my corporation, and could have easily made 2 million. I would have been done by 2016, since I have to finish High School first. I guess the dissidents need help sooner than that, and it would be selfish of me to wish no one else had gotten the idea before me…but…

There must be a catch to the government using it. Why would they create something they knew they couldn’t control in the long run??? This is so fishy! Maybe I’m just being hopeful, since my idea has been stolen and now I have no concept of what to do with my future. I was reluctant to even talk about my idea online for fear someone would steal it and then make their fortune off of it, using it for their own personal gain instead of revolutions. So there’s no evidence that I even had the idea…except for documents inside my computer.

I guess I can still sell it in the U.S. if nobody else does that. I’m looking for a business idea that’s brand new. Trying to develop something that already exists is too slow and risky, plus it doesn’t bring the same advantage.

By: Iain

Iain — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:46:45 +0000

So as soon as a state recognizes that the dissidents still have net access, they shut down cell phone service and HEY! PRESTO! information blackout.

By: Vogie

Vogie — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:38:38 +0000

Not nearly as cool as the Xbox Forever from Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, but the price point is fairly steep. Then again, it is a prototype of the Gen 1.

On a consumer side, I’d love to see this as a general user thing eventually. Citywide ad-hocs in lieu of actual centralized ISPs? Sign me up. Even if it is pretty expensive or large – Would you pay $2-8,000 one-time vs the umpteen hundred dollars a month from Verizon/AT&T?

By: Philip

Philip — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:23:58 +0000

Seems like this is a way for government agencies to more securely transfer information away from the public eye. It also acts as a safety net for these agencies if they decide to “kill switch” the internet, as feh mentioned. While the idea will be sold as a security measure meant to benefit the public, it will be the continuation of a gradual top-down strangle-hold on society.

By: feh

feh — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:25:38 +0000

So, are US “dissidents” going to be able to get one of these babies in case the internet kill switch bill passes?

By: Jeffery Alper

Jeffery Alper — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:53:26 +0000

I think that this is a great idea. I hope that this allows dissenters access to “real” information about what is happening in their countries and also allows them to contact people “outside” and shed “light” on what is happening in their country. At least the U.S. is getting involved in the freedom of other people in the world.

By: Clever Name Alluding to Some Deeply Significant Concept

Clever Name Alluding to Some Deeply Significant Concept — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:01:18 +0000

Yes, as always.

By: Brian Too

Brian Too — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:37:47 +0000

Wait, are we helping or attacking dissidents now? I just need a status update.