Edward Snowden is winning the internet today

Overheal

Edward Snowden, famed/infamous NSA whistleblower, has made himself a little more accessible to the world than a 10 hour flight to Russia - he's joined twitter.

https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/648919037007777792

Shortly thereafter, Neil DeGrasse Tyson welcomed him to the fold - and he followed the NSA Twitter account, @NSAgov

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/648895006472839168

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/648901718705577985

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/648912690526711808

It did not take long for one of the numerous presidential candidates on the republican side to try to gain support in attacking Snowden, and call for Twitter to shut down his account:

https://twitter.com/GovernorPataki/status/648895670980583424
https://twitter.com/GovernorPataki/status/648969328705073152

Strong stuff.... :rolleyes: what was Twitter's interim CEO have to say about Snowden joining?

https://twitter.com/jack/status/648894111634857984

All I know is the entire exchange put a smile on my face, and hopefully you as well. Snowden at time of post has amassed 676 thousand followers in about 7 hours.

Mother Brain

I just want Neil DeGrasse Tyson to wrap me up in a big white towel, stroke my hair and tell me that I'm made of star stuff until I fall asleep just once in my life.

Is that really too much to ask?

starling

Mother Brain wrote: »

I just want Neil DeGrasse Tyson to wrap me up in a big white towel, stroke my hair and tell me that I'm made of star stuff until I fall asleep just once in my life.

Is that really too much to ask?

No, but everybody wants that, if he does it for you he'll set a dangerous precedent

starling

See whenever people complain about Twitter and stuff like that, or whenever I get pïssed off with it, it's always things like this that win me back over....

Manach

If a patriot is someone who acts in their countries actual interests and core beliefs instead of the vested interests' ones then Snowden is more of a patriot than many of his detractors.

Th0mas Shelby

Two things have to stop immediately:

1. Winning the Internet. How the hell can one win the internet? Is there a raffle or something?

2. Breaking the Internet. Enough said.

Just STOP this nonsense immediately.



In other news, haboy Snowden boy

endacl

AH response: Who's Edward Snowden? Never heard of him.

NachoBusiness

Mother Brain wrote: »

I just want Neil DeGrasse Tyson to wrap me up in a big white towel, stroke my hair and tell me that I'm made of star stuff until I fall asleep just once in my life.

Is that really too much to ask?

You deserve better.

Rayne Wooney

The documentary on him was very good, will have to give it another watch

How could him leaking the existence of a massive seemingly out of control surveillance program harm the American citizens?

c_man

I hope he starts tweeting about The Walking Dead and other tv shows. He's a smart guy, I'd like to hear his thoughts on the power machinations in Westeros.

starling

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

The documentary on him was very good, will have to give it another watch

How could him leaking the existence of a massive seemingly out of control surveillance program harm the American citizens?

Because terrorists! Murica....

Mother Brain

NachoBusiness wrote: »

You deserve better.

But I'm willing to settle! Lord knows I'd be willing to settle for Neil...

"Just tell me one more time about the discovery of radio waves Neil. Please, just one more time?!"

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

endacl wrote: »

AH response: Who's Edward Snowden? Never heard of him.

That's reserved for people who merely think they're important. Or, more to the point, people who think that the person they're talking about is important.

Manic Moran

Manach wrote: »

If a patriot is someone who acts in their countries actual interests and core beliefs instead of the vested interests' ones then Snowden is more of a patriot than many of his detractors.

Perhaps this is true, but I would suggest that there are probably better ways of going about achieving the aim than doing a mass dump of classified documents of little relevance to the goal, and then popping over to Russia with more classified material. That sort of thing traditionally sends people to jail no matter the motivation.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Manic Moran wrote: »

Perhaps this is true, but I would suggest that there are probably better ways of going about achieving the aim than doing a mass dump of classified documents of little relevance to the goal, and then popping over to Russia with more classified material. That sort of thing traditionally sends people to jail no matter the motivation.

depends on the contents of the documents. he's more seen as a hero because he brought to light just how much the us government was shooting on people, not because he publicised classified info.

Links234

c_man wrote: »

He's a smart guy, I'd like to hear his thoughts on the power machinations in Westeros.

I don't think he's a fan of Varys.

Chucken

Manic Moran wrote: »

Perhaps this is true, but I would suggest that there are probably better ways of going about achieving the aim than doing a mass dump of classified documents of little relevance to the goal, and then popping over to Russia with more classified material. That sort of thing traditionally sends people to jail no matter the motivation.

:pac:

Poor Mercia!!!

Grab All Association

Manic Moran wrote: »

Perhaps this is true, but I would suggest that there are probably better ways of going about achieving the aim than doing a mass dump of classified documents of little relevance to the goal, and then popping over to Russia with more classified material. That sort of thing traditionally sends people to jail no matter the motivation.

I don't think Snowden had any documents with him when he arrived in Russia.

Mother Brain

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

depends on the contents of the documents. he's more seen as a hero because he brought to light just how much the us government was shooting on people, not because he publicised classified info.

I tend to find a lot of the people who call him out as a traitor (not saying the above poster was mind you) fail to make any distinction between disclosing sensitive military operations of a legitimate nature and exposing monstrously invasive, illegal activity. There is a substantive difference like. Can't understand why apologists refuse to acknowledge or seem incapable of perceiving that.

Ush1

Manic Moran wrote: »

Perhaps this is true, but I would suggest that there are probably better ways of going about achieving the aim than doing a mass dump of classified documents of little relevance to the goal, and then popping over to Russia with more classified material. That sort of thing traditionally sends people to jail no matter the motivation.

Hmm, I wonder what the "correct" way would be?

Timberrrrrrrr

Manic Moran wrote: »

Perhaps this is true, but I would suggest that there are probably better ways of going about achieving the aim than doing a mass dump of classified documents of little relevance to the goal, and then popping over to Russia with more classified material. That sort of thing traditionally sends people to jail no matter the motivation.

What material did he take to Russia and what evidence do you have of this?

Streetwalker

The irony of asking twitter to close down his account by supposed "freedom loving" Americans seems to be lost on them. Bless.

asherbassad

Manic Moran wrote: »

Perhaps this is true, but I would suggest that there are probably better ways of going about achieving the aim than doing a mass dump of classified documents of little relevance to the goal, and then popping over to Russia with more classified material. That sort of thing traditionally sends people to jail no matter the motivation.

Nope. He exposed US government malfeasance. You don't like it because you're conditioned to believe that the US government can do no wrong. What's more you despise being outsmarted.

SterlingArcher

asherbassad wrote: »

the US government can do know wrong. What's more you despise being outsmarted.

Can do "no" wrong. Hey if you're going to do the smug "outsmarted "... Just sayin.

America is like a big creepy stalker that tells the neighbours he was only filming their house in case someone broke in.

asherbassad

SterlingArcher wrote: »

Can do "no" wrong. Hey if you're going to do the smug "outsmarted "... Just sayin.

America is like a big creepy stalker that tells the neighbours he was only filming their house in case someone broke in.

Congratulations, you found a typo. I "know" how to spell "no" but then predictive text on a phone can cause such grammatical felonies. Your mother must be so proud.

KERSPLAT!

Mod

Alright, back on topic please

MonkeyTennis

The worst thing about Snowdons revelations is that no-one seemed to really care they were being spied upon.

This is a country where half the people claim to hate 'big government'

asherbassad

MonkeyTennis wrote: »

The worst thing about Snowdons revelations is that no-one seemed to really care they were being spied upon.

This is a country where half the people claim to hate 'big government'

They have completely fallen for the "keep us safe" bullshit.

Trent Houseboat

More importantly those who hate "big government" are more likely to see Snowden as a traitor.

Grab All Association

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

More importantly those who hate "big government" are more likely to see Snowden as a traitor.

Rednecks.

RayCon

Am I the only one who doesn't know who Neil DeGrasse Tyson is ?

wp_rathead

RayCon wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't know who Neil DeGrasse Tyson is ?

He is God

ohnonotgmail

wp_rathead wrote: »

He is God

not quite. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is who god aspires to be.

Links234

RayCon wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't know who Neil DeGrasse Tyson is ?

He's the Carl Sagan of today.

ohnonotgmail

Links234 wrote: »

He's the Carl Sagan of today.

lets not go totally nuts here.

I always loved the interview that John Oliver did with him.

Badly Drunk Boy

endacl wrote: »

AH response: Who's Edward Snowden? Never heard of him.

Never heard of him? He's yer man on Twitter!!

robindch

Manach wrote: »

If a patriot is someone who acts in their countries actual interests and core beliefs instead of the vested interests' ones then Snowden is more of a patriot than many of his detractors.

Snowden's actions are in many ways admirable.

However, in the absence of any similar releases from China, India, Brazil, the UK, Israel, Pakistan, North Korea, France etc, not to mention his current base, Russia - given everything that it's doing - much of the admiration for his actions, and particularly the scale of them, seems questionable at best.

Son Of A Vidic

RayCon wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't know who Neil DeGrasse Tyson is ?

I'm guessing that you've just emerged from a coma. So you've a lot of catching up to do.

Manic Moran

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

depends on the contents of the documents. he's more seen as a hero because he brought to light just how much the us government was shooting on people, not because he publicised classified info.

Right, and if the former was all he did, then there would be a little less controversy over him.

Was it necessary, for example, to leak 15,000 Australian intelligence files to reveal US NSA collection of information? Take nearly a million DoD files? The one does not excuse the other.

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

What material did he take to Russia and what evidence do you have of this?

Granted. That said, he did state himself to have taken the documentation with him as far as China which is just as illegal. Further, he claimed that the information he gave to journalists there (in a country known globally for its press independent from government) was safe from Chinese access because he was familiar with that nation’s intelligence abilities, saying that as an N.S.A. contractor he had targeted Chinese operations and had taught a course on Chinese cybercounterintelligence. I wouldn't stake my bank account information on that, let alone national security. That's also assuming we take him at his word.

Ush1 wrote: »

Hmm, I wonder what the "correct" way would be?

My immediate thought, given that he was afraid of reprisals should he go through regular NSA channels, would be the Senate or House Intelligence Committees, maybe having a lawyer file a suit in court, or, if he absolutely had to leak to the press, leak only the pertinent information to the subject at hand.

bigpink

Trying to be a celeb now is he*

razorblunt

His account is following one and only one other twitter account ... that of the NSA.
Gwan the bould eddie.

Cienciano

TIL that I'm the only person that thinks Neil DeGrasse Tyson comes across as a bit of a wánker

AllGunsBlazing

RayCon wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't know who Neil DeGrasse Tyson is ?

Mike's brother?

hatrickpatrick

robindch wrote: »

Snowden's actions are in many ways admirable.

However, in the absence of any similar releases from China, India, Brazil, the UK, Israel, Pakistan, North Korea, France etc, not to mention his current base, Russia - given everything that it's doing - much of the admiration for his actions, and particularly the scale of them, seems questionable at best.

Why, exactly?

Zebra3

Manic Moran wrote: »

Right, and if the former was all he did, then there would be a little less controversy over him.

Was it necessary, for example, to leak 15,000 Australian intelligence files to reveal US NSA collection of information? Take nearly a million DoD files? The one does not excuse the other.



Granted. That said, he did state himself to have taken the documentation with him as far as China which is just as illegal. Further, he claimed that the information he gave to journalists there (in a country known globally for its press independent from government) was safe from Chinese access because he was familiar with that nation’s intelligence abilities, saying that as an N.S.A. contractor he had targeted Chinese operations and had taught a course on Chinese cybercounterintelligence. I wouldn't stake my bank account information on that, let alone national security. That's also assuming we take him at his word.




My immediate thought, given that he was afraid of reprisals should he go through regular NSA channels, would be the Senate or House Intelligence Committees, maybe having a lawyer file a suit in court, or, if he absolutely had to leak to the press, leak only the pertinent information to the subject at hand.

You reckon he should go through the US political establishment for some form of justice?

The establishment that blows up families at weddings, arms Islamic fundamentalists, overthrows democratically elected governments, murders its own citizens, spies on its own citizens, spies on its allies, supports dictators, supporters its allies in constantly violating international law, engages in illegal wars.

You think he should trust those scumbags in getting some form of justice?

Seriously?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Manic Moran wrote: »

Right, and if the former was all he did, then there would be a little less controversy over him.

Was it necessary, for example, to leak 15,000 Australian intelligence files to reveal US NSA collection of information? Take nearly a million DoD files? The one does not excuse the other.

Oh, I never commented on what he did or didn't do - I just stated that he's seen as the guy who exposed just how much surveillance and spying goes on by the US government nd how little the concept of "privacy" means to them The means are pretty much factually confirmed, regardless of whether or not they're justified.

Was it, for example, neccesary to spy on and eavesdrop on conversations between European foreign leaders?

If you want to put forward the suggestion that he put lives at risk or acted recklessly, please do so - but bear in mind I'm not nessecrily disagreeing with you.

Junkyard Tom

robindch wrote: »

in the absence of any similar releases from China, India, Brazil, the UK, Israel, Pakistan, North Korea, France etc, not to mention his current base, Russia - given everything that it's doing - much of the admiration for his actions, and particularly the scale of them, seems questionable at best.

What?

Manic Moran

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Was it, for example, neccesary to spy on and eavesdrop on conversations between European foreign leaders?

Given that no nation usually acts out in the interests of any nation but itself, I can't say that it's surprising, even if it comes with political liabilities if discovered. I wouldn't be surprised if any nation which had the resources to spare would be doing so.

You reckon he should go through the US political establishment for some form of justice?

The establishment that blows up families at weddings, arms Islamic fundamentalists, overthrows democratically elected governments, murders its own citizens, spies on its own citizens, spies on its allies, supports dictators, supporters its allies in constantly violating international law, engages in illegal wars.

You think he should trust those scumbags in getting some form of justice?

Which other establishment has he been relying upon? Last I checked, it was the US politicians and courts which have had any influence on curtailing the NSA's activities, not outraged denizens of the Twitterverse no matter what country they were in.

Mother Brain

Manic Moran wrote: »

Which other establishment has he been relying upon? Last I checked, it was the US politicians and courts which have had any influence on curtailing the NSA's activities, not outraged denizens of the Twitterverse no matter what country they were in.

I would argue the contrary to be honest. If / when enough enraged citizens kick up enough of a stink to their regional / state level representatives, they are then compelled to try and effect change due to their mandate as being representative of their constituents. If self serving local politicians believe they can score political points with voters by bringing concerns over surveillance programs to the courts and congress then then they will.

It's a little bit of a stretch in my opinion to believe that entrenched power structures operating in the shadows are going to be willing or able to police their own actions in this regard, especially as what they're doing is illegal in the first place.

Obama has already made a few causal statements to the effect that the mass surveillance programs need to be refined under pressure from foreign allied leaders such as Merkel, who only had knowledge of the fact that they had been spied on as a direct result of the leaks.

Zebra3

Manic Moran wrote: »

Which other establishment has he been relying upon? Last I checked, it was the US politicians and courts which have had any influence on curtailing the NSA's activities, not outraged denizens of the Twitterverse no matter what country they were in.

If you actually bothered to follow public statements made by Snowden you'd know that what he said was that he wanted the information in the public domain, and then let the public decide if they wanted to act on the information, but that they had a right to know about the criminality that was going.

For some bizarre reason you think he should have trusted murdering scumbags to investigate it all and that they'd start prosecuting people. :rolleyes: