Why doesn't Freedom Force use encrypted emails?

© 2005 by G. Edward Griffin -- Created 2005 May 12

Occasionally, someone expresses concern that emails to and from our members are not encrypted. The following message, received last week, is typical: “I believe we should all be using encryption on our emails. As you know, the FBI uses an email scanner called Carnivore that snoops and categorizes every unencrypted email sent. Plus, multiple copies of your emails are archived all over the place forever.” This was my reply:

Encryption may protect us from snoopy neighbors and commercial hackers but not tyrannical governments. There now are ways for government agencies with cutting-edge technologies to read every stroke you make on your keyboard, including passwords and key codes. They can access anything you put on your computer, including files that are never sent over the Internet. They can even listen to conversations in the privacy of your home. That, however, is not the reason we do not bother with encryption. The reason is that the underlying concern over this issue usually is a fear that we may wind up on the government’s black list and become a target for harassment or reprisals – and that attitude is totally foreign to the Freedom Force strategy. If we aren’t already on someone’s black list, then we aren’t doing it right. Our role is to be in the forefront of the battle, to challenge corruption, expose deceit, and offer leadership. If everyone around us doesn’t know what we believe or what we are trying to accomplish, then we are doing something terribly wrong. There is no way to oppose tyranny and defend freedom while trying to remain anonymous.

This is the spirit of openness described in paragraph nine of our Code of Conduct, which states:

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