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The MSM and Cookies

More hypocrisy and willful ignorance from the MSM

So the MSM is in a blather about the NSA website and cookies:

The Associated Press — The National Security Agency’s Internet site has been placing files on visitors’ computers that can track their Web surfing activity

These ominous files being placed on visitors’ computers? They’re called cookies. And you know who else puts cookies on their visitors’ computers? That’s right, the same MSM companies who are screaming about the NSA story.

A quick look at the cookies folder on my own computer this morning revealed cookies from: Houston Chronicle, CNN, KHOU, Austin American Statesman, Washington Post, Ny Times, MSNBC, AP.org, and FOX news. And that’s just a partial list.

Jeff Jarvis mocks the MSM, too:

This is getting ridiculous: The AP is treating the NSA’s use of web cookies as if it is Big Brother spying. They’re just cookies.

Ed Morrissey at Captain’s Quarters weighs in with this:

In the great spectrum of Internet privacy dangers, “persistent cookies” sits on the weakest end. Spyware from free downloads cause more security problems than cookies, and even the ones used by the NSA can be blocked by any browser on the market. The AP uses the mistake to make cookies sound vaguely sinister when they’re almost as ubiquitous on the Internet as pop-up ads, if not more so.

Exactly.

***
In a related story about the NSA, the Justice Department is beginning an investigation into the NSA story leak to the NY Times. Perhaps the Times ought to start worrying more about charges of treason than harmless cookies.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Friday, December 30th, 2005 | Trackback |

9 Responses to “The MSM and Cookies”

Heh. The NYT left 13 tracking files on my computer, two of which expire in 2021. I demand an investigation!

Left by Brian O'Connell on December 30th, 2005 at 1:30 pm

this investigation and others as well. Maybe when we expose the media and the insiders that are behind these leaks, it will put an end to all of this craziness. Keep Digging: Stop the ACLU: Justice Department Opens NSA Leak Probe UrbanGrounds:The MSM and Cookies [IMG]

Left by Keith D. Milby :: blog on December 30th, 2005 at 1:57 pm

Perhaps the Times ought to start worrying more about charges of treason than harmless cookies.

Not much respect for whistleblowers, huh? When the President of the United States circumvents laws that are clearly laid out to prevent a certain action where is the accountability if it is against the law to reveal this to the the public?

Congress was forbidden to reveal knowledge of the program even though the President claimed the actions were under their authority. (Though, in fact, language that would have permitted unwaranted domestic spying that was submitted by the President was expressly removed from the authorization of military action against al Qaeda.

If not Congress and not the Courts and not the Press where are the checks and balances? These are, afterall, the principles we are defending.

Left by Preston on December 30th, 2005 at 3:32 pm

Preston, you act for certain that these wire taps are illegal or unconstitutional. I don’t believe that to be true.

And nickles to dimes the SCOTUS doesn’t find it to be the case either.

64% of the country believes that the President should be able to “spy” on suspected terrorists making phone calls to or out of this country in order to protect us. I am in that 64%. You’re not. You’re also in that minority that believes it was illegal (Hope and pray that it was illegal is more accurate).

Left by Robbie on December 30th, 2005 at 5:39 pm

I’m with that 64% too. I just ask him to get a warrant within 72 hours of doing so.

Is that so difficult?

(The only reason I would ‘hope and pray’ the President’s actions are illegal is that I hope that the Constitution still means something)

Left by Preston on December 30th, 2005 at 6:20 pm

So… the AP is running a hyped-up story about the NSA “placing files on visitors’ computers that can track their Web surfing activity”. Putting it that way makes it seem malicious and sneaky. In fact, though, it’s just another commonplace internet

Left by The Horrors of an Easily Distracted Mind on December 30th, 2005 at 9:24 pm

BTW, this is just another instance of the Bush monarchy violating the law. Lame attempts to distract people by the fact that private companies use cookies doesn’t excuse the fact that these were illegal. Bush is not above the law. I wonder why you want him to be.

Left by Dan on December 30th, 2005 at 11:39 pm

A monarchy?

“I do not think that word means what you think it means…”

Which law did he violate? Go ahead, I’ll wait. And please be specific.

Left by Robbie on December 30th, 2005 at 11:59 pm

Robbie - by monarchy, I meant that he’s holding himself above the law.

As for the law, in a 2003 memo, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget prohibits federal agencies from using persistent cookies _ those that aren’t automatically deleted right away _ unless there is a ‘compelling need.’ A senior official must sign off on any such use.

Left by Dan on December 31st, 2005 at 12:21 pm

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