"You're Being Watched": Edward Snowden Emerges as Source Behind Explosive Revelations of NSA Spying

Summary

Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, exposed the U.S. government's vast surveillance programs. In an interview with Glenn Greenwald, Snowden discusses his decision to leak classified documents revealing mass data collection by the NSA, including phone records and internet communications. Snowden explains his motivations, stressing that the public must decide on these surveillance practices, not government officials. Despite the risks of retaliation, Snowden reveals how surveillance operates both internationally and domestically. He defends his actions as necessary for preserving democratic values and warns of the growing dangers of unchecked governmental power.

Takeaways

• 😀 Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee, revealed himself as the whistleblower behind the explosive NSA surveillance disclosures.
• 😀 Snowden worked for Booz Allen Hamilton and Dell, with his last post at the NSA office in Hawaii before fleeing to Hong Kong in May 2013.
• 😀 The first major revelation was that the NSA was collecting Verizon phone records under a secret court order, affecting millions of users.
• 😀 Snowden also disclosed the existence of PRISM, a top-secret program where the NSA accessed the central servers of major internet companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.
• 😀 The NSA used a tool called Boundless Informant to map and analyze massive amounts of data collected globally, including 3 billion pieces from U.S. networks.
• 😀 Snowden explains how the NSA collects communications data from both foreign and domestic sources, targeting anyone without proper oversight or public knowledge.
• 😀 Snowden chose to reveal his identity and motivations publicly to ensure that the public, not just government officials, could decide on surveillance policies.
• 😀 He highlighted that surveillance isn’t just about catching wrongdoers, but it builds a system where even innocent people can be scrutinized and targeted.
• 😀 Despite fears of retaliation by the U.S. government, Snowden took the risk to expose abuses, asserting that these decisions should be made by the people, not government officials.
• 😀 Snowden's motivations were not to harm the U.S. or aid its enemies; rather, he wanted to expose the dangers of mass surveillance and protect democratic freedoms.
• 😀 He expressed concerns that, despite the revelations, no meaningful change would happen unless the public actively pushed for policy reforms to prevent further surveillance abuse.

Q & A

Who is Edward Snowden and what role did he play in revealing the U.S. surveillance state?

Edward Snowden is a 29-year-old former CIA technical assistant who worked for Booz Allen Hamilton and Dell as a contractor for the NSA. He revealed the extent of the NSA's surveillance programs, including the collection of telephone records and access to internet company servers, which sparked widespread debates about privacy and government surveillance.

What motivated Snowden to become a whistleblower?

Snowden was motivated by his growing awareness of government abuses within the intelligence community. As an analyst, he had access to sensitive information and witnessed disturbing actions that he felt the public needed to know. Over time, the systemic nature of these abuses led him to make the decision to disclose the information.

What did Snowden reveal about the NSA's surveillance programs?

Snowden exposed several surveillance programs, including the collection of Verizon phone records under a secret court order, the PRISM program that allowed NSA access to internet companies' servers, and Boundless Informant, a tool for tracking global data collection. He also disclosed that the NSA targeted not only foreign nations but also collected data from U.S. citizens' communications.

Why did Snowden choose to reveal his identity publicly, rather than remaining anonymous?

Snowden believed that the public had the right to understand the motivations behind the disclosures. He felt that subverting the government in secret could undermine democracy, and he wanted to defend the authenticity of his actions by taking full responsibility for the leaks, showing that his goal was to inform the public, not harm the U.S.

What concerns did Snowden have about the U.S. government's possible reaction to his actions?

Snowden feared retaliation from the U.S. government, including the possibility of being targeted by the CIA or other third-party partners. He acknowledged the risk of being harmed or captured, but stated that he was willing to accept these dangers for the sake of making the public aware of the surveillance programs.

How does Snowden explain the potential risks of unchecked government surveillance?

Snowden warns that mass surveillance doesn't require individuals to have committed any crimes. Over time, as data collection grows, innocent people could be scrutinized based on minor mistakes or misunderstandings. He emphasizes that the more extensive surveillance becomes, the easier it is for governments to track and manipulate individuals' actions.

Why did Snowden choose to flee to Hong Kong, and how does he address concerns about his motives?

Snowden traveled to Hong Kong because of its strong tradition of free speech and a relatively independent government. He refutes the idea that his move was to defect to China, explaining that Hong Kong has a long history of protest and free expression, contrasting it with the heavily censored mainland China.

Did Snowden have the opportunity to harm the U.S. with the information he had access to?

Yes, Snowden had access to highly sensitive data, including the identities of covert agents, intelligence operations, and the locations of NSA stations. However, he states that he did not use this information to harm the U.S. or pass it to foreign adversaries. His primary motivation was to inform the public about the abuses of power, not to cause damage.

What was Snowden's greatest fear regarding the outcome of his disclosures?

Snowden's greatest fear is that his disclosures will not lead to meaningful change. He worries that the public may be aware of the government’s overreach but will not take the necessary steps to pressure their representatives to act, allowing the surveillance state to grow unchecked.

How does Snowden believe policies regarding surveillance will evolve in the future?

Snowden believes that the surveillance state will continue to expand, especially as new technological threats emerge. He predicts that future leaders will exploit crises to justify increasing surveillance powers, and unless the public demands action, the surveillance state will eventually lead to a form of tyranny.