Fahrenheit 451 – April 26, 2004
Recently, I wrote a page about the “Brainwashing Machine” – otherwise known as television. I figured that the Third World War had already begun: it’s the war over information and disinformation.
In truth, for me at least, the period from 2002 to 2004 was a turning point. I realized that justice wasn’t really justice at all; instead, it could be used by liars to get their own victims convicted. This was confirmed by other cases mentioned on my website. It’s pointless to say that politicians of all stripes have completely lost credibility. The Socialists were in power when genocide occurred in Rwanda; eight years later we learned that Mitterrand’s government was deeply involved.
We no longer delude ourselves, neither about the “Left,” nor about the “Right” or “Center.” I recall a joke told by my old friend Vladimir Golubev, a pioneer of MHD, during the Cold War:
“In your country, it’s man exploiting man. Well, in ours, it’s the opposite.”
Another revelation came from the fantastic Arte program Thema on April 13, 2004, which aired the documentary “September 11 never happened.” Our trust in the media died that day—completely and irreversibly. For me, it ended then. Some readers sent me a copy of this film. I need someone who can digitize it so it can be broken down into short segments. We could then create a special edition akin to “Arrêt sur Image,” where a journalist is supposed to critically analyze television content. But now we know that this show is just as fake as all the others. Don’t expect its host to actually critique that Arte broadcast: one can’t saw off the branch one’s sitting on.
Earlier, we wondered whether someday we’d have to handle information “wildly,” without relying on journalists, since they’re no longer capable of doing their job. They’re all tethered to their editors, who themselves are controlled by political or financial powers. Some (like those at Arte) pretend to deliver “breaking news” to give us the illusion that the press is free. But we’ve seen this is merely a way to hide other topics. So how can information circulate freely? Not via the Internet. See the document mentioning the first wiretaps on ADSL lines in Belgium in April 2004. That’s when I decided to compile various topics related to “Big Brother” into one document.
I figured a CD-ROM could serve as an effective communication medium, given its generous storage capacity (700 megabytes). With a computer, a burner, and some software, it would be possible to distribute information endlessly. Yet reader Hervé Desrue reminded me of reality: things are far worse than we realize. Readers can consult the following documents he provided:
http://www.lebars.org/sec/tcpa-faq.fr.html
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/can-you-trust.fr.html
Go read these documents; you’ll be astounded. Here I’ll try to briefly summarize the key ideas.
All necessary technologies already exist to implement a vast digital repression apparatus. Take piracy, for instance. Years ago, one company envisioned this: if a software or file was pirated, then that file would contain code designed to erase your hard drive. There were legal proceedings; this measure was banned because “individuals or companies shouldn’t take justice into their own hands.” Yet piracy exploded after burners became available. Targets include software, music, anything...
How can laws be enforced today when everyone breaks them? The only thing done is to punish those who trade pirated goods, as a warning. But the truly effective method is the “Fritz” chip. It’s a “surveillance and alert component” soldered onto the motherboard; computer giants wish to install it on future PCs. Fritz activates upon startup; it checks the operating system, runs it, then verifies there are no pirated programs, that serial numbers are valid, and subscriptions up to date. Otherwise, it orders deletion of such software. This is... legal. You become a... lawbreaker.
Fritz is part of a project developed by Intel called TCPA: “Trusted Computing Platform Alliance.” This is translated as “Alliance for Trustworthy Computing.” I believe this translation isn’t accurate; readers fluent in English might suggest better ones. Personally, I’d translate it as:
A system ensuring that how you use your computer complies with existing laws and regulations.
This falls under Digital Rights Management. But who isn’t breaking rules in this realm? Palladium is Bill Gates’ version; he “dreams of making the Chinese pay.” Indeed, if everyone paid for what they use, software firms would become fabulously rich. They crave even greater profits. And yet they’re already thriving.
These TCPA, Palladium, and Fritz systems wield unlimited power. Only current laws hold them back; but those laws could be changed under pretexts like fighting pedophilia, terrorism, or piracy. If this door opens, Big Brother enters your home. It has multiple entry points; one is Windows’ architecture. Have you noticed how occasionally Windows announces:
It’s downloading updates.
Seems harmless. Same goes for Norton messages about downloading new viruses. Currently computers remain relatively free. But Windows faces competition from “free software” like Linux. .doc files can be read by pirated word processors or free ones. Technically, Microsoft can trap customers in a universe where nothing can enter or leave. Documents created using Microsoft tools couldn’t be opened by free programs. It goes even further: see the cited documents. Anything is conceivable. Text documents could be marked so they can’t leave certain networks. Imagine a defense ministry where classified texts self-destruct if removed. All “official” documents in ministries might be subject to such measures.
This can extend to emails: “volatile” emails that self-destruct two days after receipt or upon forwarding.
Extend this to software and document control. One day we’ll find downloadable music playable only three times; on the fourth listen it self-destructs.
To understand these issues, we must look back thirty years, when first software appeared on the microcomputer market, chiefly Apple II. Copying software emerged too. For a machine, being able to run easily copied programs became a selling point. Apple computers cost a fortune back then: 25,000 francs for a 48k model running at 2 MHz. Buyers could, if they had the right environment, obtain pirated software worth 20,000 francs within days. French machines failed utterly in this respect: few, poorly designed, low-performance (TO7 then TO9), with limited software. Total flop.
Then came the game of locking/unlocking, now an international pastime. Machines multiplied, making development worthwhile. Early buyers made money; the rest pirated. Other strategies arose, like price slashing. Those my age recall Pascal programming language costing 4,000 francs in the 1980s for a single floppy disk. A Frenchman named Borland emigrated to the US and sold Pascal for just 800 francs. Microsoft staff wore T-shirts saying:
Delete Borland
Borland’s idea was simple: why pirate when software is cheap? This worked when machines were still rare. Without belonging to a large group, it took more effort to pirate than to buy legitimately. Downloads turned everything upside down, elevating piracy to an industry level.
Add police surveillance, anti-terrorism, anti-sexual crime arguments—all used to restrict freedom. The biggest threat is monopoly. Before PCs appeared, Apple monopolized the market by setting exorbitant prices (25,000 francs for machines sold wholesale at 800 francs). Old-timers recall memory chip costs. Apple pocketed huge profits. Partial clones appeared, mostly from Hong Kong. Eventually PCs flooded the market by allowing and even encouraging cloning, i.e., releasing ROM secrets. Apple nearly collapsed. Bill Gates adopted full compatibility—something Apple never did, even among its own products. I was an “Apple” user for over twenty years; I developed Superpangraphe for Amstrad 6128, selling 1,500 copies. After Amstrad vanished, I adapted it for Apple LC III at 8 MHz; Superpangraphe became Screen. Then Apple changed machines and processors; my product had to be redesigned from scratch. I abandoned CAD.
PC strength lay in ensuring compatibility not just between machines but over time—this gives Windows somewhat schizophrenic behavior linked to its “paleo-brain.”
Today, monopoly threatens once again, gravely. Opposing it are free software advocates. What was once marginal may become essential for preserving liberty. Three keys enable this:
- Software keys
- Hardware keys
- Internet access keys
Free software like Linux fights this monopoly. Fritz represents local-level locking. Compare it to cars: until now speed limits were enforced by cops; now replaced by radars. Soon automated fines via GPS will be issued, e.g.:
- The section you entered has a speed limit. Despite our warning you didn’t comply. We’re sending a fine of... to your vehicle; this will deduct X points from your license.
Such measures reduce accidents and deaths. But imagine your car programmed to refuel only at certain stations, or breaking down if you attempt unauthorized routes...
Fritz chip = a spy inside your machine. This can be coupled with controlled Internet access. Without Fritz, you can’t “exchange or sell,” as John says in Revelation. We face extremely grave problems; it’s vital to recognize them early. Security and intellectual property arguments mask a far greater danger: monopoly structures.
I return to clandestine information dissemination—something we’ll inevitably face. Its strength lies in using fairly primitive tools. Already, free software movements emerged over twenty years ago; today, Hervé Desrue informs me of another movement aiming to develop its own hardware:
http://www.presence-pc.com/article-112.html
Their motivation: possessing tools currently inaccessible to the public, such as advanced CAD. Computer-generated imagery brings big profits; it even extends to processor design. Worldwide, enough idealistic IT experts exist to escape big multinationals’ grip, even at the cost of reduced performance.
For data transport, CD-ROMs are the medium. Can such objects be “marked”? Example: in the 1980s, British firm Amstrad flooded the market with black-and-white machines, two floppy drives, and a dot-matrix printer at half the price of Apple II. Only text processing was possible, yet 500,000 units sold. How did Amstrad reap huge profits? By making machines read only its own rectangular 3-inch floppy disks, which it sold at premium prices.
Freedom will survive if people can build compatible hardware sets including Word Processor – Scanner – Audio/Video Recording – Printer – Visual/Sound Output. Performance isn’t crucial; 700 MB capacity suffices to carry entire libraries of books, videos, audio files. Plenty will make such tools.
Internet access? Warfare awaits. Future users will have two computers: one for surfing, another for storing documents and software inaccessible to outsiders. Mail remains... Post is still free. We must hope, but judging by trends, prepare for this “underwater” war.
I often think of Fahrenheit 451, where a totalitarian regime hunts books. Many ways exist to stifle literature: first, denying authors access to major media—as happened to me last week (radio and TV shows canceled at the last minute). Second, hiking prices prohibitively. My Anselme Lanturlu comic series, launched in 1980, saw its price rise to 90 francs per black-and-white issue (plus shipping). More costly than a full-color Bilal album. Production cost: one euro. 6 francs 60.
Belin Publishing thus decided to sell off its stock (3,500 copies); a friend is purchasing them now. Once available at much lower prices, I’ll inform my readers. Does this mean the series dies? No, it survives as CD editions. This is... Fahrenheit II. These CDs exist since 2000; people can order directly from me. They’re easily duplicated; Lanturlu thus lives on, and I’ll create more. Without this, it’d succumb to “Belin’s Law”:
Sales revenue divided by copies sold must remain constant.
A violently non-linear law, ultimately. Fortunately, I took precautions four years prior. Analogously, people must safeguard their communication means. It’s a relentless war, but Robin Hoods aren’t defenseless. Television lies? Fine, we’ll produce video docs ourselves and distribute them on CD/DVD. Publishers block us? We’ll publish on CD. Advantage: no “destruction” possible. One CD can contain a lifetime’s work, all thoughts of a person or school.
You’ve been warned. We’re at war.
April 27, 2004: Reader reaction, Julien Geffray:
The TCPA system and “Fritz” chip integration lie at the core of the next Windows version, slated for 2006 (“Long Horn”—a breed of US cattle). If Windows PC edition indeed incorporates such an “Operating System” (strictly speaking: to exploit users better), citizens should massively switch to LINUX or Mac. Under “Microsoft Palladium,” the computer ceases to be private property; everything becomes “licensed,” requiring royalty payments.
My commentary and forecast: Bill Gates won’t foolishly activate Fritz immediately. He’ll let people grow accustomed to the concept. Initially Fritz actions will be limited, emphasizing user security. Gates will proceed incrementally—the “slow-boiling frog” technique. Simultaneously he’ll offer ever more appealing services to make clients dependent. Then he’ll tighten controls gradually, softly. Switching to Mac may not suffice; this ironclad restriction will become global, with corresponding laws. Uncontrolled freedom poses too great a risk. You’re too used to freedom to grasp its true potential: a link between all humans. Now, those able to combine free software and free hardware must devise an escape plan from Microsoft’s grip. The Net allowed an unacceptable freedom zone; media is controlled, but not the Web. Faure Law reveals how power brokers seek to cage this “cat.” Everything will be done to suppress our expression. Internet is anarchic yet opened previously closed worlds, e.g., scientific publishing. Journals like Voltaire Network mail PDF editions to subscribers. These circuits will gain their own quality image providers. Broadband will spawn TV channels beyond trust control. Publishers can’t kill books anymore (Lanturlu survives digitally after 24 years). Scientific journals and newspapers are now... paper tigers.
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