In an age where information flows freely and the digital realm intermingles with our present-day life, there's a story that's both inspiring and cautionary—one that revolves around civil liberties, internet security, and the remarkable journey of one man, Edward Snowden. It's a story that shines a light on the power of individuals to challenge the status quo, disrupt oppressive surveillance, and ignite a global conversation about our fundamental rights.
What is all of this about? Well, let me tell you, we live in perilous times. As such, we should expect things to get their darkest before dawn.
We May not have a loud voice in our current social/political environment, and realistically, we may only be delaying the inevitable, but as a populace, we owe it to ourselves to say we didn’t go into the night willingly.
There are circumstances where our hands are figuratively tied, and we have to pay to play, but no less, we do indeed have a voice. However, it seems to be getting continually diminished as time progresses!
Moving on…
»The following is an “Audio transcript” of this article; it took some time and some tedious proofreading. But! If you’d prefer to listen to this article with a bit of theatrical flair as opposed to reading it, then Hit the play button and enjoy the nearly 20 minutes of this article!
Oh, and one more thing: if you like this sort of approach to consuming my content, leave me some feedback on it so I’ll know whether to do it on occasion in future written articles! Enjoy!«
The Prelude: A New Era of Digital Freedom
The dawn of the 21st century ushered in an era where the world could connect like never before. The internet became a hub of information, a platform for innovation, and a tool for connecting people across borders. However, it also presented new challenges, especially when it came to preserving our digital privacy and civil liberties.
Here’s a short clip from “The Bryant Gumbel Show” dated 1994.
Looking back, it sure is staggering to think about how technologically advanced the internet and technology have become!
Not only that, but to think of things in terms of a generational curve. This upcoming generation, as well as the one before it. Have absolutely no clue what it was like to have to use Dial up.
For a connection to the internet! It was like the Wild West in some regards. As a young kid, for most of us, you had to sit at the computer desk and wait for the modem to go through the whole process of connecting. Not to mention having to listen to the awful squawking noises it made while establishing a connection, and forget about it if someone picked up the phone while you were presently online!
There were, however, some neat innovations back then as well…
For instance, there was a caller ID specifically for people trying to call while you were online. It would alert you when they were attempting to call. And you could answer the call, but it would disconnect you from said Internet. So, you can understand where, as a kid, this would be problematic—been there, done that!
And in a house with 3 siblings, not including myself, it would get hectic…
With that said, growing up in the 90s, we didn’t have tablets or widely available, much less affordable laptops. Cell phones weren’t really a thing. The technology was sort of there, but think of those brick phones that seem so ancient in today’s world… and then imagine that that was top of the line for the time period.
So, as you can imagine, the internet being a relatively new thing, there really was no need for watchdogs at that point. Things were “pure” or as “pure” as they could be, considering the Internet Privacy and Security statutes.
This brings us to an interesting conjecture regarding Edward Snowden’s childhood growing up as a military brat.
”Ed’s Childhood:
Edward, who’s referred to as “Ed” throughout the book (Permanent record), was born in 1983, the same year as the public Internet. Growing up, Ed was fascinated by technology. He first encountered video games when he was six, and his family got a home computer when he was nine. By age 12, his goal was to spend as much time on the Internet as possible.
The Internet of Ed’s childhood was a different entity than it is today. The early Internet was mainly used by people (rather than governments or businesses); it wasn’t monetized, and it was anonymous. Ed—and everyone—had tremendous freedom online.”
Fast forward to present-day America/internet.
Edward Snowden and the PRISM Leaks:
Enter Edward Snowden, a former U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) contractor. In 2013, Snowden blew the whistle on a clandestine government surveillance program known as PRISM. This covert operation had been collecting vast amounts of data from major tech companies, raising critical questions about personal privacy and government overreach.
Snowden's courageous act exposed the extent of mass surveillance on not only American citizens but also other countries. I might add this as well: Unlike the narrative suggests, these collections of data and information are not solely “people of interest.” It includes allies to the United States and much more!
Consequently, as a result of this bombshell of a story being published for the world to see, It ignited a worldwide debate about the delicate balance between national security and individual liberties.
Why is this such a big to do?
Well, because people who are, for lack of better words, asleep! Can essentially be considered sheep to be herded by the sheepdog. To that end, They will continue to be herded until the Snowdens of the world wake up the sheep and figuratively turn the tides in our favor. Will that ever fully happen?! It’s up for debate, but we’re at a point where it’s very easy for the house to win…
For a real-life example of just how easily manipulated and malleable the American people are, we look at a very popular test that had been conducted with real-life human test subjects
as the benefactors of said outcomes.
This experiment is “The "Milgram Shock Experiment.” »Link for a full description of the experiment to follow…«
”Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University, carried out one of the most famous studies of obedience in psychology.
He conducted an experiment focusing on the conflict between obedience to authority and personal conscience.
Milgram (1963) examined justifications for acts of genocide offered by those accused at the World War II, Nuremberg War Criminal trials. Their defense often was based on “ obedience ” – that they were just following orders from their superiors.”
Link to Milgram Shock Experiment.
The study was simply a masterpiece of how corralled the average citizen can be, given particular circumstances.
”65% (two-thirds) of participants (i.e., teachers) continued to the highest level of 450 volts. All the participants continued to 300 volts.
Milgram did more than one experiment – he carried out 18 variations of his study. All he did was alter the situation (IV) to see how this affected obedience (DV).”
And lastly, for this particular source of information, we have this piece of information.
Why does this anecdote matter in the twenty-first century? Simple! two words “M-A-S-K _ M-A-N-D-A-T-E-S!”
and We’ll go for the gold here and give you another Pivotal word Combo. But this time, it will be three words:
”T-R-U-S-T _ T-H-E _ S-C-I-E-N-C-E!”
What happened here? How did we navigate through these mandates and narratives? Simply, people either complied or they were hit with hefty bills and legal restraints! Small businesses were destroyed! People died without ever having their loved ones by their side as they passed! Funerals were prolonged, and people’s immune systems were destroyed because of it. Kids under 4 - 5 years old grew up in a world where they weren’t exposed to the common colds and the like, so as a result, when “the new norm” came into play and kids went to school for the first time, they were relentlessly sick. Why? Because their bodies couldn’t fight what they’ve never been exposed to…
And for what? Are we not past the “two weeks” said to be needed to eradicate it? Or, more aptly, “2 weeks to flatten the curve!” Remember that! Are the 4 - 5 booster shots and vaccines ineffective at getting rid of the disease that would kill everything in its path? One thing is for sure: it did kill something, but it wasn’t what the narrative suggested. It was small businesses into which people had poured their livelihood, which had been in operation for many years; it was the life of families who were now forced to either comply with mandates, consequently not seeing their loved ones for what would seem like an eternity! Or take the risk that you would endure legal problems; I was working in youth ministry and had to carry around a written document with me in the car that stated I was an essential worker and legally allowed to be on the road! I remember the first day I drove to work with that document. It was a wintery day. And it was snowing when I went there and when I left. I maybe saw 3 to 4 cars on the entire road while I was on my way home! It honestly felt like I was living out a scene from some dystopian movie, and I was the star right then and there… Why did we have to endure all of this? Just to be told down the road, AFTER THE ELECTION, bear in mind. That, “Oh, it’s basically just the common cold, and it will remain with us now.” Just get a booster shot every year, and you’ll be fine!
But don’t take my word for it! Let’s look at a legitimate source who has said exactly that:
“I see so many people say: ‘Remember, Covid’s not over,’” Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist and director of Brown University’s Pandemic Center, told STAT.
“Covid’s never going to be over. You need to set expectations accordingly. It is never going to be over.”
Covid is now like influenza, RSV, rhinoviruses, and a large number of other pathogens that will, at some point or points in a year, increase in transmission activity and then decline, ceding the stage to something else that can make people cough, sneeze, run a fever, feel lousy, and sometimes require medical care and can on occasion lead to death.“
As well as this excerpt:
”When we’re looking at Covid, it’s important to remember that we are in a markedly different phase in our experience with SARS-2 than we were even a year ago, experts insist. Yes, the number of new hospital admissions is rising, and the number of deaths may follow. But they are far below the figures of previous years. In the last week of August 2021, there were nearly 86,000 new hospital admissions. Last year, at the same time, the number was 37,000. This year, it was 17,400.”
https://www.statnews.com/2023/09/10/covid-cases-rise-new-normal-coronavirus/
There’s this quote hanging around out on the web as well:
”Dr. Birx said, “If everybody in America does what we ask for over the next 15 days, we will see a dramatic difference, and we won’t have to worry about the ventilators. We won’t have to worry about the ICU beds because we won’t have our elderly and our people at the greatest risk having to be hospitalized.”
Dr. Fauci added, “The guidelines are a 15-day trial guideline to be reconsidering. It isn’t that these guidelines are now going to be in effect until July.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/03/we-shut-down-for-way-more-than-15-days-and-still-didnt-slow-the-spread/
What can be said about the aftermath of Snowden's disclosures is nothing short of transformative. Governments worldwide were forced to come face to face with the implications of “unchecked surveillance.” People around the globe began demanding transparency and accountability from their leaders.
It had essentially created the foundation or, rather, building blocks for a “revolution” of sorts, and there’s something to be said there!
Legislation and Reform: Protecting Our Digital Footprints
In the United States, The USA FREEDOM ACT was passed, aiming to curb the bulk collection of data and enhance oversight of intelligence agencies. Other nations followed suit with their own reforms. It was a testament to the power of individuals and the collective voice of a concerned citizenry.
The following is just one of the ways the ACT safeguards against totalitarian extremes or massive overreaches to our constitutional rights:
#2 - Transparency and Oversight: It enhances transparency by requiring government agencies to provide more information about their surveillance activities. Additionally, the act establishes oversight mechanisms to ensure that surveillance programs are subject to judicial and congressional review.
When we consider the prospect of internet security, we have to realize this simple truth! The battle for internet security, privacy, and civil liberties is far from over! As technology continues to advance. Likewise, so do the methods of surveillance and data collection. It’s at this point we have to understand how crucial it is that we remain vigilant and informed citizens, holding those in power accountable for our overall respectable rights as citizens.
The problems arise when we become complacent and start buying into the narrative about “security” provided to us as citizens by our governing bodies, as long as we’re willing to give away some “basic privacies and freedoms!” I should preface here by saying this: I’m not referring to Benjamin Franklin’s erroneously misquoted line about “Liberty V. security.” More precisely, I’m referring to the concept that Americans give up basic freedoms on a daily basis! In order to get a slice of “security” as a citizen in “the land of the Free & the home of the Brave!” But how does that play out? Are we really more secure?! Is the trade-off really worth it in the end??
Or are we in the biggest shuffle game of our lives?! Yes, while it’s true that we’re not facing tyranny - the likes of communist countries like China.
Where they are facing daily persecution and the penalty of death!
And No, here in America, we won’t be killed for stating our opinions on elected officials..! That is unless you have incriminating evidence on Hillary Clinton. Better known to her fans by her moniker “Killary!”
In all seriousness, though. We live a precarious life here in America!
One in which we, few, who believe in what the founding fathers stood for and originally intended with what they signed into legislation are relegated to the voice of the majority rule.
The Role of Citizen Journalists and the like.
Citizen journalists play a vital role in this ongoing dialogue. They are the watchdogs of democracy, shining a light on government actions and corporate practices that threaten our digital freedoms. With the power of the internet at our fingertips, each of us has the potential to become a force for change.
There are a few applications here. Namely,
”1) Accountability of Mainstream Media: Citizen journalists also hold mainstream media accountable for their reporting and editorial decisions. They act as a check on media organizations to ensure responsible and accurate reporting.”
”2) Monitoring Civil Liberties: Citizen journalists are often at the forefront of reporting on issues related to civil liberties, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and privacy rights. They can draw attention to threats to these liberties and advocate for their protection.”
All things considered, citizen journalists contribute significantly to the checks and balances that are vital to a functioning democracy. Their work complements the efforts of traditional journalists and helps ensure that the government remains transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs and concerns of the public.
When we look at bombshell stories covered by journalists, they may not have been “citizen journalists;” instead, they are simply trusted journalists with integrity and grit to their name.
Nevertheless…
We look at such journalists as those bold individuals who broke the Edward Snowden story.
With that in mind, there are three names that come to mind with regard to that story. Snowden is the obvious one, but there are 3 other names that come to mind.
Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Barton Gellman. They were instrumental in covering the story that Snowden would be sounding the alarm about!
”Greenwald, Poitras, and Snowden are on a growing list of journalists, activists, and whistle-blowers who are unable to travel freely because of their First Amendment-protected activities. Their fears of persecution are sadly not exaggerated. The United Kingdom detained Greenwald’s husband, Brazilian David Miranda, for nine hours and charged him with violating an anti-terrorism law because he had met with Poitras and carried information (not some illegal substance or terrorist plans) for Greenwald. Wiki-leaks journalist Sarah Harrison, who literally rescued whistle-blower Snowden from Hong Kong, has been advised by her attorneys not to return home to the U.K. Wiki-leaks founder Julian Assange has long been the target of a U.S. criminal investigation and was forced to seek asylum from Ecuador, but cannot get there.”
In conclusion, When we discuss and go over the narrative of “The Battle for Privacy and Freedom in the Information Age,” and when we think about Edward Snowden's story and his unwavering commitment to truth and justice. We’re reminded of our responsibility to safeguard our civil liberties and protect our digital privacy. The battle for these rights is a battle for the future of our interconnected world, and together, we can ensure that the digital realm remains a beacon of freedom and a centralized hub of knowledge for generations to come!
As we reflect on the journey from the shadows of secrecy to the light of transparency, let us continually be reminded that the guardians of our digital realm are not just the Edward Snowdens of the world but each and every one of us who values freedom, privacy, and the transformative power of information!
So keep digging, keep researching, keep telling your story!
Remembering this! This article is dedicated to those who dare to challenge the status quo, who embrace their role as informed citizens, and who inspire change in the name of civil liberties and digital privacy. In the ever-evolving landscape of our digital age, where technology meets the timeless principles of our faith, may we stand united in our commitment to a more just, righteous, and free world!