Lecture Notes

Government Response to Conduct

• Possible investigation by the US government.
• Accusations of grave crimes, including violation of the Espionage Act.
• Argument that disclosing mass surveillance is seen as aiding enemies, but mass surveillance affects everyone.

Motivation for Joining Intelligence Community

• Joined the intelligence community at a young age, post-Iraq invasion.
• Initially believed in the noble intentions of the US government.
• Over time, exposure to true information revealed misleading of the public by the government.
• Realized structures of power work to extend their capabilities at the expense of public freedom.

Key Disclosures

• *NSA Surveillance:

  • Collects all communications transiting the US.
  • Monitors all ingress and egress points in the continental US.
  • Verizon document: Shows the government monitors everyone's calls and internet traffic thru corporate partnerships.

• Boundless Informant: Global auditing system for NSA's intercept and collection.

  • Tracks how much and where data is collected.
  • NSA lied to Congress about this tool.

• PRISM: Demonstrates US government's co-opting of corporate power.

  • Companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft provide NSA direct access to user data.***

Privacy and Freedom Concerns

• Disturbed by a world where all personal data and communications are recorded and monitored.
• Values privacy and the freedom to communicate without surveillance.
• Compulsion to act against a government increasingly invasive and unregulated.