This is true but you have to admit over time the means of oppression have become more nuanced and complicated.
Few people realize that most companies are little more than intellectual property, a network to collaborate on expand said IP and the corp's ability to secure information.
Large corps and govt's not only understand this, they are defined by it, thus the need for whistle blowers more now than ever as the foot on your throat is not as apparent.
If you can't put the veracity of the revelations of Snowden on trial I guess you attack his character and/or means.
The NSA is in a lose, lose situation. They are painting Snowden to be an idiot...an idiot they were dumb enough to hire and allow to revamp major system. Oh but he cheated on their test to get hired! If the NSA cannot secure a test what can they secure? Oh but a comp sci guy was quirky and eccentric! Ya well maybe tell ole' Keith not to recruit at DefCon what kind of people are you trying to hire?
The idea that there is mass data store somewhere and it will not be utilized for say insider trading or blackmail is naive to say the least. If Snowden had access so do many, many others and I am sure they tell themselves they are good people but human nature is what it is... What weapon, and mass info is indeed a weapon, has ever been created and never used especially a stealthy tool which can always be denied being used hidden behind secrecy and patriotism?
Bend over and shut up we are good peeps and the others that will rape you if we "pull-out" would be much worse.
Sad to see a programmer be so lost. Kudos for the post but if the NSA was squashing terrorist attacks daily with evidence of their efficacy they would be screaming it from the roof tops.
Snowden proved the implicit insecurity of information aggregation on such a massive scale and if he had access so will nation states... the one that I fear most is my own county.
Few people realize that most companies are little more than intellectual property, a network to collaborate on expand said IP and the corp's ability to secure information.
Large corps and govt's not only understand this, they are defined by it, thus the need for whistle blowers more now than ever as the foot on your throat is not as apparent.