5 Years on, US Government Still Counting Snowden Leak Costs (apnews.com)

National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden blew the lid off U.S. government surveillance methods five years ago, but intelligence chiefs complain that revelations from the trove of classified documents he disclosed are still trickling out. From a report: That includes recent reporting on a mass surveillance program run by close U.S. ally Japan and on how the NSA targeted bitcoin users to gather intelligence to combat narcotics and money laundering. The Intercept, an investigative publication with access to Snowden documents, published stories on both subjects. The top U.S. counterintelligence official said journalists have released only about 1 percent taken by the 34-year-old American, now living in exile in Russia, "so we don't see this issue ending anytime soon." "This past year, we had more international, Snowden-related documents and breaches than ever," Bill Evanina, who directs the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said at a recent conference. "Since 2013, when Snowden left, there have been thousands of articles around the world with really sensitive stuff that's been leaked."

Comments

Good

[TimMD909]

I'm happy to hear they're still facing consequences, even if those consequences aren't nearly severe enough to make me content.

Re:Good

[Tablizer]

Both parties are for snooping on others but not themselves. Politicians are flip-floppers who reflect absent-minded voters.

And 200+ years on

[rsilvergun]

in the history of the United States and Cop Math is still a thing.

Not preventing Snowdon 2.0

[Oswald McWeany]

The government isn't really doing anything to prevent a Snowden 2.0 either. They're still after prosecuting him, which means the next Snowden will also flee overseas and leak to the media. There isn't really a "legal" way for someone like Snowden to report government abuses; the only alternative is through the media.

I've not seen the government make any steps to prevent the next Snowden from following the same steps Snowden made.

Re:Not preventing Snowdon 2.0

[Anonymous Coward]

I imagine Trump will take a hint from his good friend Putin and Snowden will mysteriously succumb to Polonium or Novichok.

Doubtful. Trump may be Putin's bitch but it doesn't work the other way round. The longer Snowden stays in Russia, the better the message for anyone who might in future think about trusting Russia. Hell, Putin has gone to war in Syria, admittedly partly for a military port, but mostly because he wants to show that if you stick with Russia then Russia sticks with you. Compare with Ukraine, Georgia, or Germany who have stuck with America. Compare with Japan's treatment over North Korea. Compare with the various muslims who cosied up to the states during the Iraq war and can't now get visas. Compare with the shit we Brits are going to get over post Brexit trade.

Thinking of a recently started Trade war, which countries and people can you think of that might get the message that Russia keeps its promises? Which countries and people do you think people like Assad and Snowden speak to?

Re:Not preventing Snowdon 2.0

[Anonymous Coward]

When you find out your government has dozens if not 100s of illegal operations running, and you realize that everyone above you is involved, what exactly are you meant to do?

Re:Not preventing Snowdon 2.0

[Anonymous Coward]

Absolutely incorrect.
There are multiple chains of authority that someone in the IC can report to if they discovery improper behavior. Local office, agency IG, other agency IGs, the IC IG, even the Congressional Oversight Committees.

Sure. You could even report the improper behaviour to the guy who's doing it. Or to President Trump himself. The effect will be the same in every case however. You will suffer more than the person you are reporting. Sometimes just a little. Sometimes lots. There have been plenty of cases where people got serious shit for reporting up the chain.

Re:Not preventing Snowdon 2.0

[Anonymous Coward]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/22/how-pentagon-punished-nsa-whistleblowers

Quit lying your ass off and learn how to use Google for fuck's sake

Re:Not preventing Snowdon 2.0

[Anonymous Coward]

> Thomas Drake reported that he thought there were illegal activities going in. The lawyers reviewed his accusations, and determined that he was wrong - the programs in questions were legal.

It's rather telling that your primary concern is whether something was "legal" rather than being, you know, right.

(Torture and execution without due process are only two examples of things that are perfectly hunky-dory if all you care about is legality.)

> Drake was not a whistleblower. He was wrong about his facts, and he paid for committing crimes based on his ignorance.

Keep looking for that true Scotsman, Mr. Clapper.

Let me play you a song

[Snotnose]

On my tiny violin.

Yeesh, would it be cheaper...

[RyanFenton]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to, you know, not rely on extraordinary rendition, illegal spying, extra-constitutional structurally biased special courts, intra-agency webs of secrecy, and all that?

This seems more than a bit like "If it weren't for those darn meddling kids, everything would have been fine, JUST FINE," then complaining how expensive that now-ruined mask on the floor was.

Ryan Fenton

There is no cost greater than..

[AnthonywC]

Uncovering the truth and doing "The Right Thing".

the biggest crime: embarrassing the NSA

[sloth jr]

With all the revelations, the main takeaway I got is the NSA is pissed that they got caught acting poorly. Given their lack of apology, it's clear the NSA isn't at all motivated to, you know - change, and stuff. All the NSA seems to want to do is deliver maximum stitches to maximum snitches.

I sleep better.

Re:the biggest crime: embarrassing the NSA

[AmiMoJo]

They are more concerned about the steps being taken to stop their mass surveillance. Ever since the leaks the internet has become a lot more privacy and security focused, with encryption being used more and more to cover what were once considered mundane communications.

Prior to Snowden was it relatively easy and cheap for them, now the cost is massively increased. Instead of unencrypted chat apps we now have all the major ones supporting strong encryption, often enabled by default and implemented so that the developer can't circumvent it.

Getting caught it just an inevitable part of playing the spy game. It's the resulting privacy enhancements that really upset them.

Greatest Cost

[cybersquid]

The greatest cost is the continuing loss of faith & trust in our government.

The fact that the U.S. government continue to persecute this whistle-blower is much more damning than the things he revealed.

IMO Snowden should be pardoned & given a medal.

And Clapper is still not in jail for perjury

[blind biker]

Instead, he's landed a cushy job at CNN.