Την περασμένη εβδομάδα, o Edward Snowden κατέθεσε την μαρτυρία του στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο για την Ηλεκτρονική Μαζική επιτήρηση των πολιτών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Ο Snowden κατηγόρησε τις USA, which do not protect the public from real threats, but destroy the character of its open communication. His testimony stated:
The comprehensive tracking of Americans in the home από την κυβέρνηση των ΗΠΑ δεν κατάφερε να σταματήσει τους βομβιστές της Βοστώνης. Αν και οι Ρώσοι μας προειδοποιήσει για τον Tamerlan Tsarnaev, το FBI δεν μπορούσε να κάνει περισσότερα από μια βιαστική έρευνα – αν και για αρκετά χρόνια κανουν πολλές άχρηστες computer-based searches – and failed to discover the perpetrator. 264 people were injured and 3 died. The Pterms που θα μπορούσαν να πληρώσουν μια ολοκληρωμένη έρευνα, δαπανηθηκαν για την παρακολούθηση των αρχείων κλήσης του καθενός στην Αμερική.
That should not have happened. I worked for the United States Central Intelligence Agency. The National Security Service. The Defense Information Service. I love my country, and I believe that espionage serves a vital purpose and must continue. I have risked my life, my family and my freedom to tell you the truth.
The NSA has given me the power to monitor communications around the world using mass surveillance systems. I did it in the United States as well. I have personally watched people using these systems, with the presidential mandate “Executive Decree 12333 and US Congress FAA 702. I know the pros and cons of these systems, what they can and cannot do, and I tell you that without getting up from In my chair, I could have read the private communications of any member of this committee, as well as any ordinary citizen. I swear knowing the punishment of forgery that all this is true.
These are not characteristics of free societies. Mass monitoring violates our rights, our security is at risk, and it threatens our way of life.
All the letter is here in PDF format.
