Nation state governments do have the ability to coerce companies within their territory by default.
If you think this feature is unique to the USA, you are buying too much into a separate narrative. All countries can and will use the force of law to control companies within their borders when they see fit. The USA actually has more freedom and protections in this area than many countries, even though it’s far from perfect.
> This type of generalized defeatism does more harm than not.
Pointing out the realities of the world and how governments work isn’t defeatism.
Believing that the USA is uniquely bad and closing your eyes to how other countries work is more harmful than helpful.
No, assuming that anything besides what you can verify yourself is compromised isn't "defeatism", although I'd agree that it's overkill in many cases.
But for your data you want to absolutely keep secret? It's probably the only to guarantee someone else somewhere cannot see it, default to assume if it's remote, someone will eventually be able to access it. If not today, it'll be stored and decrypted later.
This is correct. Yes, every government has the ability to use violence and coerce, but that takes coordination among other things. There are still places, and areas within those places, where enforcement and the ability to keep it secret is almost not possible.
> It's not guaranteed or by default.
Nation state governments do have the ability to coerce companies within their territory by default.
If you think this feature is unique to the USA, you are buying too much into a separate narrative. All countries can and will use the force of law to control companies within their borders when they see fit. The USA actually has more freedom and protections in this area than many countries, even though it’s far from perfect.
> This type of generalized defeatism does more harm than not.
Pointing out the realities of the world and how governments work isn’t defeatism.
Believing that the USA is uniquely bad and closing your eyes to how other countries work is more harmful than helpful.
Understanding the cloud is someone else's computer is something I've repeated many, many, many times in my comments.
The OP assumption that it's just the way it is and everyone should accept their communication being compromised is the issue.
No, assuming that anything besides what you can verify yourself is compromised isn't "defeatism", although I'd agree that it's overkill in many cases.
But for your data you want to absolutely keep secret? It's probably the only to guarantee someone else somewhere cannot see it, default to assume if it's remote, someone will eventually be able to access it. If not today, it'll be stored and decrypted later.
This is correct. Yes, every government has the ability to use violence and coerce, but that takes coordination among other things. There are still places, and areas within those places, where enforcement and the ability to keep it secret is almost not possible.