Edward Snowden: Obama's NSA Reforms Are A 'Turning Point' - BusinessInsider

[WillyT]

EDWARD SNOWDEN: Obama's NSA Reforms Are A 'Turning Point'
BRETT LOGIURATO - BusinessInsider
MAR. 25, 2014, 5:29 PM

<snip>

Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden on Tuesday hailed President Barack Obama's plan to reform the NSA's bulk surveillance programs as a "turning point" in the debate over privacy and security. Snowden's statement was released by the American Civil Liberties Union, which is coordinating his legal representation as he faces charges for leaking a massive cache of classified files that sparked a massive public debate about the NSA's activities.

"This is a turning point, and it marks the beginning of a new effort to reclaim our rights from the NSA and restore the public's seat at the table of government," Snowden said.

Late Monday night, the White House announced Obama intends to introduce legislation that would drastically reform the way the NSA collects "metadata" from Americans' phone calls. By doing this, Snowden said Obama admitted the NSA's bulk data collection programs are "in fact unnecessary."

"The very first open and adversarial court to ever judge these programs has now declared them 'Orwellian' and 'likely unconstitutional.' ... Congress is considering historic, albeit incomplete reforms. And President Obama has now confirmed that these mass surveillance programs, kept secret from the public and defended out of reflex rather than reason, are in fact unnecessary and should be ended," Snowden said.

Obama's coming legislative proposal would eliminate perhaps the most controversial aspect of the NSA's collection methods — the government's routine collection of Americans' call data, and it would serve as the biggest change to the agency since Snowden's documents became public last year.

<snip>

More: http://www.businessinsider.com/edward-snowden-statement-obama-nsa-reforms-bill-2014-3

[polichick]

1. Yep - let's make that turn!

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Remember, it's not about Snowden. nt

[polichick]

3. The part about necessary public scrutiny is about Snowden - thanks, Edward!

[WillyT]

5. Well Ya See C_D... I Post Things That Are Of Interest To Me, And I Hope, Others Here...

Some posts are appreciated... others are not...

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024720437

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024728300

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024729930

And that's fine as far as it goes, but...

Seems many here are more interested in fighting each other, than fighting for our Democracy.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Hi Willy!! I also post things of interest to me and Dems. Check out my recent GOTV 2014 threads:

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024724891

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024724001

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024705862

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024692365

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024673346

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024659046

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024658824

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024653047

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024650692

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014739301

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024576594

[WillyT]

10. I Know You Do C_D... I Know You Do...

[MADem]

4. I don't think so. It'll just be a game of jump-through-the-hoops.

Snowden is trying to make it about him. Look, look, see what I did!!!

Obama is letting the phone companies keep the data. Ooooh kay.

He doesn't say that the NSA can't access it with the wink and blink of an eye.

And if "we" can't collect it fast enough to suit NSA, what's to stop NSA from making a "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" deal with the British? Answer--nothing at all.

Don't want to be surveilled on the phone? Stay off the damn thing. Don't want your internet "dealings" tracked or traced? Don't do business that way.

That's the only 100 percent solution....and people who don't like that "solution" can't see that this IS the way it is. You put yourself out there, you cannot assure your privacy.

[WillyT]

6. And Yet For The Last Decade Or Two... Our Technology Has Out Paced Our Laws That Govern It...

I've probably read hundreds of articles about that over the years.

Time to catch up.

And NONE of this would be happening now, if it weren't for Snowden.

[Maedhros]

8. Yes, just accept our loss of privacy. There is no value in trying to retain it.

[LittleBlue]

9. Thank you, Mr Snowden, for pressuring the president to reform the NSA

Without these revelations, nothing would have happened. Nothing may happen still. But thank you anyway!

[gulliver]

11. Snowden: "Congratulations to me!"

Last edited Wed Mar 26, 2014, 10:42 PM - Edit history (1)

"Now the world's children can once again grow up knowing what it means to have private thoughts! Once again, people have the power to control their own lives. The great night that had descended on the human spirit, the hobnailed boot on the neck of all mankind, the helpless, hopeless abysses of terror into which we were heretofore plunged...all past. We are free again. All I can say is, World, you are welcome."

[WillyT]

12. Link Please !!!