Privacy concerns? FBI director Comey trolled online for taping over laptop cam
It turns out that FBI director James Comey covers his laptop camera with tape, just like any NSA-fearing citizen should - an admission that has generated hilarity on social media.
The FBI chief confessed to keeping his camera covered at a Kenyon College, Ohio speech on encryption and privacy on Wednesday.
Comey revealed that he had learned of the novel camera blocking trick from the news. “I saw somebody smarter than I am had a piece of tape over their camera,” he said, NPR reports.
Ok, it might be time to get my @IAPP or @EFF web-cam privacy shield out. Even the @FBI Director, James Comey uses one! Trust, but protect!
— georgemcbride (@georgemcbride) April 10, 2016
READ MORE: FBI reveals iPhone hacking method to senators behind anti-encryption bill
After Comey admitted that he too is concerned about privacy, the internet was quick to call him out on his double standards.
@businessinsider@theblaze His reason doesn’t go over well. He does it bc he knows someone "can" watch him.
— Monica (@mmeans40) April 10, 2016
@libertytarian@csoghoian@NPR
— Repentant CIA Mole (@GeorgWebb) April 9, 2016
He knows the CIA is watching.@realDonaldTrump
@USATODAY@TODAYshow@MichaelWolffNYC if you look up "hypocrite", you will see Darth Comey's picture by it. https://t.co/7XCGyW4dLY
— Brooks Mollenhour (@BorxDMercurial) April 10, 2016
You carry a networked location-tracking mic/camera/accelerometer everywhere you go, but sure, tape over the built-in webcam on your laptop.
— Mike Myers (@fristle) April 9, 2016
Twitter users pointed to the apparent hypocrisy of the FBI chief’s arguing for back doors in gadgets and software to beat encryption, whilst at the same time guarding his own privacy.
The FBI argues it should be able to hack your webcam with a warrant, while the FBI director covers his own to thwart surveillance. America.
— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) April 7, 2016
@csoghoian@libertytarian@KenyonCollegian
— Repentant CIA Mole (@GeorgWebb) April 9, 2016
FBI doesn't trust CIA, and vice versa. All agencies are spying on each other. @realDonaldTrump
@csoghoian@Fronicus hard to be upset about surveillance that's do easily foiled with a scrap of paper and a piece of tape.
— Jamel Rodman (@BigBrutha87) April 8, 2016
That's so funny! I guess #FBI director is worried about his #privacy, but he is okay to violate others'. Oy ve! https://t.co/d3ZKmIRS2G
— Khan (@py_khan) April 10, 2016
Comey also discussed the recent legal battle between Apple and the Department of Justice, in which the FBI tried to coerce the tech company into breaking into the phone of the San Bernardino shooter, but later announced they had purchased a tool from a third party that had allowed them to unlock the phone without Apple's help.
Remember when government officials used to lose their jobs for false testimony? First Clapper, now Comey. https://t.co/X204QZBKOz
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) March 28, 2016
Comey said that the FBI had only been able to break into an iPhone 5c, however, and that the mysterious hack would not work on any other model of iPhone.
Big Brother watching over you a little too much? Put tape on your webcam!
Posted by RT Play on Monday, April 11, 2016
READ MORE: WhatsApp rolls out end-to-end encryption for its billion users
Comey said he was worried about Apple’s request which asks the FBI to reveal how they accessed the phone. "We tell Apple, then they're going to fix it, then we're back where we started from," he said. "We may end up there, we just haven't decided yet."
The FBI head argued that “absolute privacy” hinders law enforcement, but his desire to not be watched through a webcam suggests he believes otherwise.
FBI Director Comey admits he puts tape on laptop webcam. Forgets about microphones. Guy has no clue. #WarrantlessSpace
— papanic (@papanic) April 10, 2016
