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The FULL Snowden Interview

John Stossel・83 minutes read

Edward Snowden believed he did the right thing by exposing government secrets, realizing the extent of surveillance and deception within the NSA. Despite facing challenges and living in exile in Russia, he continues to advocate for accountability and reform in the face of extensive surveillance practices.

Insights

Edward Snowden, a whistleblower in exile, believed he acted rightly by exposing government secrets to the media, driven by a sense of duty to reveal the truth behind deceptive government practices.
Snowden's revelations about NSA surveillance programs, debunking claims of stopping terrorist attacks, underscore the limited effectiveness of mass surveillance in preventing threats, prompting questions about the government's priorities.
The discussion surrounding privacy rights, government surveillance, and corporate data collection highlights the need for accountability, reform, and individual empowerment to safeguard privacy in the face of extensive surveillance practices.

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Recent questions

What motivated Edward Snowden to reveal government secrets?
Belief in exposing truth and preventing wrongdoing drove Snowden.
How did Edward Snowden's actions impact public opinion?
Public opinion shifted in favor of Snowden's actions, with elite support for whistleblowers.
What challenges did Edward Snowden face after revealing government secrets?
Snowden faced travel restrictions, asylum rejections, and legal battles.
How did Edward Snowden justify seeking Russian citizenship?
Snowden sought Russian citizenship to keep his family together and ensure his son's well-being.
What concerns did Edward Snowden raise about privacy violations by tech companies?
Snowden highlighted tech companies' exploitation of user data and lack of privacy laws.

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Summary

00:00

Edward Snowden: Exposing Government Surveillance and Deception

Edward Snowden, a military contractor who revealed government secrets and now lives in exile, believed he did the right thing.
Snowden worked for the government, signed agreements not to disclose his work, but went to the media to expose the truth.
He joined the military post-9/11 to fight, driven by a national mythos he believed in.
Snowden realized the government's private actions differed from its public representation, leading him to expose the truth.
The pivotal moment was when Senator Ron Wyden questioned Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, revealing the NSA's deceptive practices.
The NSA collected vast amounts of data on Americans, violating privacy rights and the Constitution.
Snowden's work involved modernizing intelligence systems post-9/11, but he discovered the extent of surveillance and deception within the NSA.
Despite raising concerns to supervisors and colleagues, many were unaware or unwilling to address the unethical practices.
Snowden felt compelled to speak out to prevent the perpetuation of a system of wrongdoing and to protect the country and its citizens.
He risked his safety to inform the public about the government's overreaching surveillance and the erosion of civil liberties, advocating for a lawful examination of these practices.

18:18

Government surveillance programs ineffective in preventing attacks.

President Obama mentioned other avenues for individuals with concerns about government actions.
Snowden worked for a private company contracted by the NSA, not directly employed by them.
Whistleblower protection laws did not apply to contractors like Snowden.
Snowden believed that even if he had gone through internal channels or to Congress or the President, the outcome would have been the same.
Thomas Drake, a former NSA executive, went through proper channels but faced severe consequences.
Obama appointed two independent commissions to investigate NSA programs after Snowden's revelations.
Obama's investigations found that NSA programs did not stop any terrorist attacks.
Claims of stopping 54 terrorist plots were found to be inaccurate and misleading.
NSA programs are more effective for intelligence gathering than preventing terrorist attacks.
The government continues to fund NSA programs for their information gathering capabilities despite their limited effectiveness in preventing attacks.

35:02

"Opposing Mass Surveillance: Privacy, Freedom, Accountability"

The speaker clarifies their stance on intelligence, expressing opposition to mass surveillance specifically.
They challenge the notion of privacy concerns, questioning the impact of personal information being known by various entities.
The speaker highlights the commonality of viewing explicit content online and the discomfort associated with potential exposure.
They emphasize the importance of individuality and freedom in a society where norms and laws evolve.
The speaker warns against the dangers of a surveillance system akin to China's social credit system.
They discuss the difference between private companies like Google and Facebook having data versus government surveillance.
The speaker explains the vast reach of government surveillance, collating data from various sources to create a comprehensive profile.
They address the lack of consequences for government officials who have misled the public, contrasting it with the repercussions faced by whistleblowers.
The speaker advocates for societal change through demanding accountability and reform from those in power.
They discuss the impact of encryption on privacy, highlighting its role in limiting mass surveillance and the necessity of targeted hacking for access to encrypted data.

52:04

Snowden's End-to-End Encryption and Asylum Battle

End-to-end encryption ensures keys are only held by communicants, preventing mass surveillance.
Snowden met journalists in Hong Kong to share documents in the public interest.
Snowden didn't publish documents online, allowing journalists to make editorial judgments.
Snowden's actions were influenced by historical cases like Daniel Ellsberg and Chelsea Manning.
Snowden left Hong Kong for Latin America but had his passport canceled, trapping him in Russia.
Snowden sought asylum from 27 countries, facing interference from US officials like John Kerry and Joe Biden.
US government strategically kept Snowden in Russia, using the association for political attacks.
Snowden's flight from Hong Kong to Latin America was limited due to US airspace, leading to his route through Russia.
Public opinion has shifted in favor of Snowden's actions, with elite opinion also showing support for whistleblowers.
President-elect Biden, previously critical of data collection, now faces the challenge of handling such information responsibly.

01:07:39

"Obama shifts stance on surveillance, Snowden's exile"

Obama initially campaigned against mass surveillance but changed his stance once in power, aligning with Bush's policies.
Lack of accountability among American political elite contrasts with increasing scrutiny on the public, especially in the context of mass surveillance.
Snowden discusses his life in exile in Russia, expecting a child with his partner and applying for Russian citizenship.
Snowden justifies seeking Russian citizenship to keep his family together due to travel restrictions and his desire for his son to feel at home.
The government sued Snowden over his book proceeds, but the judgment is unenforceable due to his lack of assets in the US.
Love Int refers to spying on romantic interests, with the NSA confirming such instances without legal consequences for analysts.
Amazon's appointment of former NSA director Keith Alexander raises concerns about privacy violations through their web services and data collection.
Amazon's data collection includes tracking internet activity, purchasing decisions, and even listening through devices like Alexa, raising privacy concerns.
Snowden highlights the lack of privacy laws in the US and the public's general apathy towards privacy violations.
Younger generations are more privacy-conscious, selectively sharing on social media, but companies exploit this trust for profit, turning users into products.

01:25:29

Surveillance and Privacy: Balancing Power and Rights

Companies use systems that profile individuals by creating patterns of life and social graphs, even when trying to remain anonymous.
Private browsing windows do not prevent tracking at the network level; companies establish a unique fingerprint of your browser, device, and logins.
Tech giants like Google and Apple aim to understand not just who you are but also how you think, live, and interact to influence and control you.
Mass surveillance is more about influencing behaviors and social control than stopping terrorism, shaping laws, elections, and individual outcomes.
Companies like Facebook conduct psychological studies to manipulate users' emotions and behaviors, aiming to control beliefs and actions.
Protecting oneself from surveillance requires recognizing the political roots of the issue and supporting organizations that provide guides on privacy and self-defense.
The lack of basic privacy laws in the US allows companies to exploit loopholes and collaborate with regulators, leading to extensive surveillance practices.
The third-party doctrine, originating from a 1970s case, enables the government to access private records held by companies without warrants, impacting privacy rights.
Changing the interpretation of privacy laws to recognize individuals' property and privacy interests in their data could shift the balance of surveillance power.
Rights exist to protect the minority from the majority, emphasizing the importance of privacy and control over personal data, especially for those without significant influence or resources.

01:42:43

"Minority Ideas Vital for Progress in Free Societies"

New ideas begin as a minority but are crucial for progress in free societies.
Free societies intentionally protect and nurture these unconventional thinkers to benefit from their ideas.
Edward Snowden expresses gratitude and signs off with "stay free."

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