Source URL: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2025/09/digital-threat-modeling-under-authoritarianism.html
Source: Schneier on Security
Title: Digital Threat Modeling Under Authoritarianism
Feedly Summary: Today’s world requires us to make complex and nuanced decisions about our digital security. Evaluating when to use a secure messaging app like Signal or WhatsApp, which passwords to store on your smartphone, or what to share on social media requires us to assess risks and make judgments accordingly. Arriving at any conclusion is an exercise in threat modeling.
In security, threat modeling is the process of determining what security measures make sense in your particular situation. It’s a way to think about potential risks, possible defenses, and the costs of both. It’s how experts avoid being distracted by irrelevant risks or overburdened by undue costs…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
**Summary:** The text provides an in-depth exploration of contemporary digital security challenges, particularly concerning personal data privacy against government surveillance and corporate data practices. It emphasizes the importance of threat modeling to navigate these risks and anticipates the implications of shifting power dynamics in data management.
**Detailed Description:**
The content delves into significant aspects of digital security, highlighting the evolving landscape where government and corporate entities converge, potentially leading to increased surveillance and erosion of personal privacy. Key points include:
* **Threat Modeling:**
– The process of threat modeling is crucial for determining effective security measures.
– It encourages individuals to assess risks and defenses against potential threats.
– Understanding how to prioritize threats helps in focusing on the most relevant risks.
* **Shifting Concerns Around Surveillance:**
– Historically, personal data concerns focused on corporate surveillance; however, government surveillance has become increasingly prominent.
– New strategies employed by the government, including data consolidation from various agencies, pose rising risks to personal privacy.
– The text discusses recent actions by the Trump administration and the implications of techno-authoritarianism.
* **Comprehensive Government Data:**
– The extent of sensitive data that different government agencies (IRS, Treasury, etc.) possess about individuals is significant and raises concerns about privacy and data security.
– The narrative highlights that the government data collection framework historically followed regulatory restrictions, which appear to be in flux.
* **Corporate Data Sharing:**
– The document details how companies collect vast amounts of personal data and the potential for this data to be shared with government entities.
– Examples include how Amazon collaborates with law enforcement through Ring, and parallels are drawn with foreign practices in authoritarian regimes.
* **Personal Surveillance Risks:**
– There are extensive capabilities for targeted surveillance, with significant implications for personal privacy.
– The discussion highlights varying threats from mass surveillance, including potential criminalization and harassment based on data profiling.
* **Mitigating Risks and Strategies:**
– Recommendations include purging sensitive data from devices, using burner phones, and employing encryption as a protective measure.
– Noted limitations of encryption against state-sanctioned surveillance reinforce the need for additional security measures.
* **Practical Considerations:**
– The text emphasizes the necessity for individuals to be aware of their digital footprints and the importance of actively managing their online presence.
– It also points out the paradox of needing technology for participation in civic activism while simultaneously being at risk of surveillance.
* **Conclusion:**
– The importance of understanding the trade-offs in technology use for security and privacy is paramount.
– The text urges readers to navigate their digital surroundings with a heightened sense of awareness regarding both risks and the functionalities of available technologies.
Overall, the discussion illustrates the complex interplay between personal data security, government surveillance, and the implications for individual privacy—insightful for professionals focused on security, privacy, compliance, or technology governance.