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Edward Snowden: the World Says No To Surveillance

Posted by Soulskill on from the except-for-the-parts-that-say-yes dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Two years after his whistle-blowing, Edward Snowden finds that his action had profound effects on political decision making and on citizen's understanding of privacy issues. He writes in the NY Times, "In a single month, the N.S.A.’s invasive call-tracking program was declared unlawful by the courts and disowned by Congress. After a White House-appointed oversight board investigation found that this program had not stopped a single terrorist attack, even the president who once defended its propriety and criticized its disclosure has now ordered it terminated. This is the power of an informed public. ... We are witnessing the emergence of a post-terror generation, one that rejects a worldview defined by a singular tragedy. For the first time since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we see the outline of a politics that turns away from reaction and fear in favor of resilience and reason."

10 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Next! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess the "terrorists attacks" phase is over. Let's start the "aliens attacks" phase.

    Signed,
    The Illuminati.

  2. People are claiming a victory where there is none by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I feel like they're sensationalizing what is essentially a game of musical chairs -- the data is still being collected (by law). The spying is still happening.

  3. I can agree to that... by Penguinisto · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Mr. Snowden, love him or hate him, actually did a service to the world by pointing out something that, if left ignored, would have rivaled the old East German Stasi in scope and reach (well, if it hasn't already. Hint: It probably has.)

    I would say that if anyone deserved the title of 'whistleblower', this man damned sure qualifies.

    Now, the next step - what in the hell do we actually do about it aside from individual protection? Sure, recent congressional actions (Thank you, Sen. Paul!) have put an end to at least one program... problem is, another grew to take its place (basically, the FBI is picking up where the NSA is allegedly leaving off).

    I suspect this is going to take a lot more work than deleting web cookies and an occasional filibuster...

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    1. Re:I can agree to that... by PhrostyMcByte · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Now, the next step - what in the hell do we actually do about it aside from individual protection? Sure, recent congressional actions (Thank you, Sen. Paul!) have put an end to at least one program... problem is, another grew to take its place (basically, the FBI is picking up where the NSA is allegedly leaving off).

      I don't think we will ever trust them on this subject again. Individual protection is the only way, and that is exactly why we have so many government officials saying encryption needs to go.

    2. Re:I can agree to that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Maybe the next step (for Americans, at least) should be standing up and demanding that our Government Grant Snowden Clemency.

      Or, at a bare minimum, a guarantee of a fair and PUBLIC trial.

      But, most of can't even be arsed into doing that. Given how we treat those who stand up for us, I am surprised anyone bothers.

    3. Re:I can agree to that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "would have rivaled the old East German Stasi"

      Are you kidding me? When was the last time you feared for your life because you said the president is doing a crappy job? How many of your relatives or friends have disappeared into the night?

  4. Re:People are claiming a victory where there is no by pla · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This. Ended the program? Bullshit.. We outsourced the program, the same way the government routinely does with anything it wants but can't legally do itself.

    That said, I'll still take this over what we had last week. But don't think we won the war yet - Not by a looong shot.

  5. Re:This is my problem with Snowden by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    1. World != US
    2. Before his relevations all infosec guys who knew and were talking about this stuff were considered conspiracypathic lunatics. Now the people who deny existance of this stuff are considered idiots or liars.

  6. American Hero by NichardRixon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Edward Snowden knowingly gave the world this information at enormous personal cost. Only if enough of us stand up, stop debating minutiae, and demand that it stop will Mr. Snowden's sacrifice have been worth it.

  7. Re:People are claiming a victory where there is no by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The spying is still happening.

    That's right... Nothing has changed. And Mr. Snowden hasn't been watching the elections recently. Right wing nationalism is all the rage and making a big comeback. Mass media says a lot about surveillance, but at election time the people still don't give a shit.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”