Snowden made headlines internationally after revealing details about the data-mining carried out by the USA and it's allies in Europe. Snowden's revelations include NSA's secret data-collection activities under the program code-named PRISM, NSA asking Verizon to hand over the call-logs of it's customers, electronically tapping into the embassies, etc. Ridiculously branded as a traitor by some, he believes in transparency and his allegiance to internet freedom is reflected in the stickers on his laptop: "I support Online Rights: Electronic Frontier Foundation," reads one. Another hails the online organisation offering anonymity, the Tor Project. His belief in communication privacy is evident from the fact that he has released only the documents related to the schemes that compromise public freedom while he could have easily had access to other confidential intelligence details. This is what separates him from Daniel Ellsberg or Bradley Manning and makes his revelations more appealing and relevant to each and everyone of us.
Having worked for the NSA, he knows how wide their arms stretch and hence while in his hotel room at Hong Kong, he used to line the doors with pillows to prevent eavesdropping. He also puts a large red hood over his head and laptop while entering his passwords to prevent any hidden cameras from detecting them! These crude precautions taken by Snowden may sound paranoid but they testify that there is no web-security that cannot be breached by these mighty powerful agencies. Reportedly, India is fifth on the data-gathering radar of the NSA and thus internet freedom we seem to enjoy is nothing short of a joke. Snowden has endangered his life beyond imagination by unearthing these operations and it is the need of the hour to focus more on the issues raised rather than Snowden's fate. As Snowden himself states very clearly, "I don't want public attention because I don't want the story to be about me. I want it to be about what the US government is doing." 
Democratic governments empower its citizens with certain rights like internet privacy and freedom of expression. We people do comprehend the threats of terrorism and realise that there has to be secret collection of classified intelligence. If a government carries out programs like PRISM, it isn't unwarranted but it should at least be somewhat transparent to the peoples whilst doing so. This reminds me of Sidney Sheldon's portrayal of the NSA in his book, "The Rage of Angels" where the agency self-certifies it's actions to be directed towards the benefit of the government and its peoples. Prima facie we must remember that we live in a Democracy, where we are entitled to the vested rights of free will and not under any other form of governance where these rights become privileges. Snowden surely isn't a traitor, he is someone who believes in these fundamental rights, the richly paid 29-year old gave up a life in the heavenly Hawaii, now living as a fugitive seeking an asylum. Amidst allegations that he may have chosen Hong Kong to seek refuge and divulge more strategic information, the calm and candid Snowden answers, "The people and the government of Hong Kong are known to be independent and thus unlike in mainland China they do not have restrictions like internet filtering. Besides the two governments may have some conflicts but we are not enemies, the people of the nations are not hostile towards each other and we have the largest free trade amongst us". His understanding of the scenario and audacity is highly respectable.
It isn't fair to brand Snowden as a whistle blower, he is rather the eleventh hour Samaritan who is willing to confront the most powerful government in the world. Quizzed on why he revealed his identity instead of leaking the data anonymously, he profoundly replies, "I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong", Indeed the situation deemed credibility and not cowardice. It is a Herculean task to expose the truth and then incur the wrath of such cogent agencies and governments and by doing so, he has assured himself a life of utter vexation. Snowden is now seeking asylum to shield himself from prosecution, or shall we say persecution? A country may grant him one, but even then he soon may be extradited after pressure from the mighty US government. One way or the other, he will face extreme charges with minimal hopes of a free trial.
But Snowden isn't alone in his fate. The truth is that anyone who uses the Internet is also all in that brightly lit "transit area", the digital-transit. I'm afraid we are all in danger of becoming Edward Snowden now.
Snowden's Interview to The Guardian
Unconfirmed reports of North Korea accepting to grant an asylum to Snowden. Meanwhile a fresh controversy erupts over blockade of Bolivian President Evo Morales' aircraft suspected to carry Snowden.
ReplyDeleteEcuador claims to have found a secret microphone in its London embassy, where wikileaks founder Assange is living! Shocking, right?!
ReplyDelete