Ten years ago, Edward Snowden warned us about state spying. Spare a thought for him, and worry about the future | Alan Rusbridger
GuardianJun 06, 2023
In an interview conducted on the 10th anniversary of Edward Snowden's revelations about mass surveillance by the US National Security Agency (NSA), the whistleblower said government capabilities for surveillance in 2013 are "child’s play" compared to today.
Expressing concern about how "enormously influential" technology has become, Snowden said artificial intelligence, commercial security cameras, and facial recognition have increased threats to privacy.
Snowden is a hero who sacrificed everything to expose illegal, warrantless surveillance that targeted citizens around the globe. Ten years on, he’s still fighting for what's right, and we ought to heed his warning about the potential for even more intrusive surveillance from new technologies, lest his sacrifices be in vain.
The media valorization of Snowden as a brave crusader for truth hides a much more complicated picture. Snowden's leaks were reckless, and they severely damaged the intelligence capabilities of Western nations in their fight against terrorism. By refusing to use proper whistleblower channels, Snowden made himself little more than a common criminal. It's time he stops drumming up fear.