Edward Snowden, the famous whistleblower, says he has no regrets about exposing the US and UK surveillance practices in 2013. He believes today’s technology makes the surveillance methods he revealed back then look like “child’s play.”
Advanced Surveillance Technology
On the 10th anniversary of his revelations, Snowden spoke about how much surveillance technology has advanced. He is worried about the impact on privacy, both online and offline. He mentioned that today’s technology is far more intrusive, including government surveillance, big tech companies, video surveillance cameras, facial recognition, artificial intelligence, and spyware like Pegasus, used against dissidents and journalists.
Reflections on 2013
Looking back, Snowden feels betrayed by both the government and tech companies. “We trusted the government not to screw us. But they did. We trusted the tech companies not to take advantage of us. But they did,” he said.
Life in Exile
Snowden has been living in Russia since 2013. He fled to Russia after giving journalists thousands of top-secret documents in Hong Kong. Critics often target him for living in Russia, especially after he received Russian citizenship last year, but he sees it as his only option besides going to jail in the US.
Despite the challenges, Snowden does not regret his actions. Over the last two years, he has stepped back from public speaking and media appearances to focus on his family, including his two young sons.
Positive Changes from the Leaks
Snowden remains in touch with the journalists he worked with in 2013. He sees the widespread use of end-to-end encryption as a positive result of his leaks. Initially, big tech companies were embarrassed by the revelations of their cooperation with the NSA. They then rushed to implement end-to-end encryption, protecting data better than before.
Ongoing Privacy Concerns
Snowden warns that despite these improvements, technological advancements continue to threaten privacy. He believes the fight for privacy will be an ongoing process for future generations.
Responses from Intelligence Agencies
US and UK intelligence agencies acknowledge the privacy debate Snowden sparked but claim his actions damaged their operations. They argue that his leaks forced them to close human-intelligence operations and shifted the focus unfairly onto the NSA and GCHQ, ignoring the actions of Russia and China.
Snowden disagrees, saying no one viewed Russia and China as innocent. He also questions the agencies’ claims of damage, pointing out that they have not provided any concrete evidence.
Conclusion
Edward Snowden remains a controversial figure, but he stands by his decision to reveal the extent of government surveillance. He continues to highlight the need for vigilance in protecting privacy in an era of rapidly advancing technology.