The American National Security Agency (NSA) made itself well known to the world in the past weeks. It had no intend to.
Well, I guess, Edward Snowden did taught them a lesson about security of information. Did they listen? We might never actually know.
However, while they scream about espionage and treason, the truth remains. The contractor workers had access to personal data, wire-taps and all kinds of surveillance. People working for external companies could get all kinds of data about pretty much anyone. And Americans are worried about an insider trading? Who can blame the corporations for using encrypted channels...
The internet security and independence is essential to this world. It is a corporate channel, personal universe and much more. The internet is the new symbol of freedom while America slowly sinks mocking it's own constitution with it's anti-terrorist laws, gun-control laws and big brother like behavior of alphabet agencies. As all the old school blackmailers know, information equals control. Government talks about crime and terror but people should consider - the cattle lives a very safe lives in captivity, would like to live like that? How much of your life are you willing to give up for your safety? And how far can you go before the safety mechanisms will become the threat?
On the internet, you are a step away from information. True or not, that is for you to decide. It is a great training tool for critical thinking, which is crucial for a free society. Internet is also a great tool to reveal the truest self and see it reflected in the others, without the fear of rejection or misunderstanding. Here, if community doesn't embrace you, you can just walk away and find a new one without consequences. It is much harder in physical world where moving to a different town or work might not be easy or even possible and even then you might not be going out for a new life as haters can reach your new community and reveal them what you don't want to be known. Just remember that embarrassing story you have... Part of the internet's wonder is that it's connection to the physical world is very loose and it is only your choice to make it stronger.
Not so if you are being watched and your actions filed by a government agency. In that case internet becomes the best tool of controlling regime. The wrench of oppression. It doesn't matter what country does the surveillance and why. It is a matter of principle. Not to mention that the countries can change. Germany, and most of the formerly communist countries, in 20th century went from a democratic countries to the most brutal totalitarian states of recorded history... and the process took but a few years and, in some cases, just one elections.
If history teaches us something, it is that nothing is certain and that people tend to repeat themselves.
Now, my fellow internetians, stand for the freedom of internet, security of the information and protect yourself from those who claim that they want to protect you.
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