Here is an article in Network World where Eli Dourado of George Mason University claims Open Hardware would solve the government spying issue.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/1 ... ce=nww_rss
Open Source doesn't make more secure software. Why would someone think that the Open Standards for hardware would make it harder for NSA or others to spy? If it is an open standard, everybody gets to see it. The problem is that hardware platform makers are not going to open up their proprietary gear. There are IP and other considerations, not just security and anti-spying involved. There are also the requirements of things like CALEA that require hardware to allow direct access by law enforcement, or the makers get fined.
Makes you wonder what kind of drugs our academics are on, and what kind of crap they teach our CS students.