[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Blacknet worries
With all due respect....the U.S Government has PLENTY
of tools to go after those deemed to be violators of
various rules and regs...with or without Blacknet,
with or without encryption.
For the purposes of discussion, let's assume perfect,
unbreakable encryption, all undistinguishable (even
in principle) from noise. Yes, I admit, that is a
big assumption.
What other tools can be used, well...
1. Imputed income. If you live well, and don't show
enough reportable income, the IRS can determine how
much you are _Really_ making, and figure your tax
thereon. You disagree? Prove it in tax court.
By the way, the burden of proof is on ...YOU.
2. Criminal conspiracy. Elements are
a. two or more people
b. a prepatory act
So...if we were talking about any number of possible
illicit activities, conspiracy is a really viable
charge. Even if nobody ever commits the act. Think
about this one next time you talk with anyone
you don't know really well about anything much
more controversial than the *_Lovely_* weather
we've been having!
3. CCE (Continuing Criminal Enterprise). Did you
know that the statute of limitations is suspended
under this law? And, testimony from third
party *_unidentified_* informants is admissable?
4. IRS-1040, Schedule B, Part III, Foreign Accounts and Trusts.
Except for one relatively minor loophole, if you fail to
report a foreign bank account, it is considered prima
facie evidence of tax fraud. Sound like a really bad
day in the making?
5. If you have more than $10,000 in US Dollar value in
an offshore account, you are required to fill out a
special form for the IRS giving your account numbers;
unless you want to declare that you have more than
20 such accounts, aggregating to more than $10,000.
6. RICO. They got Mike Miliken using this...indeed, Barron's
magazine did an interesting report on RICO, with the
conclusion that a determined Federal Prosecutor could
use the law to convict a ham sandwich.
7. Did you know that Federal prosecutors have a better than
90% conviction rate?
8. HOW does one spend "magic money"? If you have bunches of
cash offshore, and bring it in, records are created. If
you buy something, potential witnesses are created. Can
you really expect that the clerk in wire transfer at XYZ
bank (who makes $6.50/hr) won't tip off someone when you
wire in the $20,000 to buy ...whatever?
9.. Spies, criminals, and others often get in trouble due to their
own and others' lack of discretion. Can we really expect
users of a hypothetical blacknet would never drink too much,
never wish to impress someone, never trust someone unwisely?
NO, I'm not an attorney...by all means, check out what I've
said; and, wherever you find errors, please correct them.
Hopefully, I've not given offense. I enjoy encryption, and
I'm all for more of it; but, I really don't think it will
be anything more than a minor inconvenince for law enforcement
and prosecutors if people engage in wholesale criminal acts.
The rather silly efforts in Waco, where those inside used
assault rifles to shoot at battle tanks; comes to mind as
analogous to use of encryption to stave off prosecution.
Now...your turn. Let the Flames begin!
Regards,
Dave