General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This thread may not go well.. but it has to be said... [View all]LiberalLovinLug
(14,761 posts)You decry Snowden for violating your 4th amendment rights, which "prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause"
...which is exactly what he is trying to fight with his actions. By "stealing" data you paid him to look at, whether you were aware of or not. You demonize one man, who COULD have looked at you personal information without a warrant, and I guess subsequently used it against you somehow. What are the odds of that? .0001 %
And if Snowden did not "steal" data revealing how the government and NSA have been lying to everyone, and actually IS collecting mega data (that's YOUR data) secretly? If left alone, what are the odds that the NSA will violate your fourth amendment rights in the future? A prominent member of a well known "liberal" news forum? I'd say your odds of your 4th amendment rights being violated from that department are much much greater. And do you think they would have even thought about creating and enacting the US Freedom Act, which Obama signed just a few days ago without the actions of this man? I personally, along with digital media rights groups, don't think it goes far enough to protect American privacy, but its something.
But in your mind all that is moot...because in order for this to happen, one man, who didn't know you at all, may just have stumbled upon your personal records - BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTED HIM TO DO SO. How does the logic even add up in your mind?
He "stole" evidence from the scene of the crime. The crime was being committed by the authorities that he would normally give the evidence to. So he gave it to the Court of Public Opinion to decide for themselves. He has done a great service to the American public and also made other western democracies citizens wary of their own governments secret civil rights violations.
Bravo Edward! I for one appreciate and applaud your good deed and the sacrifice you have made to your own personal freedom in doing so.