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Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

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Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#31

Post by car_analogy »

_xerces_ wrote: post #26
kosasbest wrote: post #5

Putting on my conspiracy robe, I would say something like he's a Russian spy, but his roots are well researched and he's the most doxxed person on the planet, so it's hard to claim he's a Russian spy. The guy seems genuine enough in my eyes, and changed the Internet forever. Like, 90% of sites are encrypted now, and he sparked a privacy revolution after the leaks. He's not a traitor, he's a hero IMHO. Others who clai…

He's not a hero, he is a traitor who betrayed the trust placed in him and damaged our national security.

Or he's the only one who lived up to that trust, since the surveillance he exposed is unconstitutional. He owes his loyalty to the American people, and what is a better expression of their will: the constitution, or the intelligence agencies?

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#32

Post by dTal »

rufus_foreman wrote: post #17
joering2 wrote: post #2

Always looked at him as an anti-governmental corruption and abuse advocate... it feels weird he hasn't said a word since Russian invasion in Ukraine started...

He did say a word since the invasion started: "I'm not suspended from the ceiling above a barrel of acid by a rope that burns a little faster every time I tweet, you concern-trolling ghouls. I've just lost any confidence I had that sharing my thinking on this particular topic continues to be useful, because I called it wrong." By "called it wrong", he means this, from February 11: "So... if nobody shows up for the in…

This comment should have been top level, it explains everything.

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#33

Post by isitmadeofglass »

pasabagi wrote: post #30

Does anybody know why he ended up in Russia? Are there really no other countries that will not deport you to the US? I think I would probably pick Cuba, for instance, over Russia.

If the United States is after you, you don’t get to pick anything, you grab on to whatever is available and hold on for dear life.

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#34

Post by paulryanrogers »

unmole wrote: post #21
kosasbest wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just the Internet traffic being encrypted, it's the proliferation of alternative services that have popped up because of the leaks (Protonmail, Tutanota etc). Many services exist now that are because of the revelations, and it's not just about HTTPS. You can very readily install many tools & utilities that thwart the NSA dragnet. Think Signal, Matrix, Cryptomator, self-hosted Nextcloud, AD-blockers like uBlo…

> Many services exist now that are because of the revelations That's the narrative but doesn't really hold up to scrutiny. > Signal Moxie's original encrypted messaging apps date back to 2010 and Open Whisper was officially started in Jan 2013. > Matrix Came out of an effort to build a unified communications suite for corporations. > Cryptomator Never heard of it. More widely used solutions like Attic/Borg have been…

It can be argued Snowden's disclosures have accelerated adoption of such privacy tools.

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#35

Post by car_analogy »

rufus_foreman wrote: post #17
joering2 wrote: post #2

Always looked at him as an anti-governmental corruption and abuse advocate... it feels weird he hasn't said a word since Russian invasion in Ukraine started...

He did say a word since the invasion started: "I'm not suspended from the ceiling above a barrel of acid by a rope that burns a little faster every time I tweet, you concern-trolling ghouls. I've just lost any confidence I had that sharing my thinking on this particular topic continues to be useful, because I called it wrong." By "called it wrong", he means this, from February 11: "So... if nobody shows up for the in…

Even a perfectly working clock is wrong twice a year for daylight savings time :)

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#36

Post by mattcwilson »

mistersquid wrote: post #14
NoPie wrote: post #9

What do you expect him to say? He is in Russia. If he says something against the war in Ukraine, he is being arrested because it is illegal in Russia to be against the war, you are not allowed even to call it a war. If he is arrested, in the best case he will be deported and then goes to jail in the US. In the worst case, he is put in jail in Russia next to Navalniy. If he doesn't say anything, then apparently the on…

> What do you expect him to say? He is in Russia. Some call acting on principle with the understanding you may be imprisoned for doing so “having the courage of one’s convictions’. Snowden evaded extradition to the United States by residing in Russia. At present, he appears to be silent regarding the current state of Russia/Ukraine relations. Courage. Convictions.

I mean, what if it’s not about courage? What if it’s canniness? What if he realizes that the long run best way for him to advance his goals is to quietly ride this time out and prepare for the opportunities on the other side?

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#37

Post by mattcwilson »

_xerces_ wrote: post #26
kosasbest wrote: post #5

Putting on my conspiracy robe, I would say something like he's a Russian spy, but his roots are well researched and he's the most doxxed person on the planet, so it's hard to claim he's a Russian spy. The guy seems genuine enough in my eyes, and changed the Internet forever. Like, 90% of sites are encrypted now, and he sparked a privacy revolution after the leaks. He's not a traitor, he's a hero IMHO. Others who clai…

He's not a hero, he is a traitor who betrayed the trust placed in him and damaged our national security.

Are you making the argument that doing the bidding of people who would corruptly misuse their power and lie about it to the American people... is a good thing?

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#38

Post by more_corn »

mistersquid wrote: post #25
nopenopenopeno wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Edward Snowden hasn’t illustrated enough conviction to meet your standards, I am aching to learn who has. He sacrificed his entire livelihood for his fellow Americans, yet whose most honorable efforts have still had no measurable political impact despite being the most important media story in the past decade, opting against sacrificing the fleeting bits of life he has left to call his own in the name of yet anoth…

I am not saying Snowden is not honorable. He has done the world a great service at great personal sacrifice. I implied he may not have the courage of his convictions regarding current events in Ukraine. Yes, I want more from Snowden. I know I am not entitled to more, but I still want it.

Speaking out publicly might not be the most effective course of action. Recall that his previous efforts exposed illegal, secret government programs. He collected evidence and then published it, bringing to light illegal programs that were previously not public. He didn’t just tweet uselessly, he provided extensive proof or illegal programs.

Everyone knows Russia is conducting a blatant power and territory grab (except maybe the willfully ignorant). Snowden tweeting about it would teach us nothing new.

Maybe if the US stopped persecuting him for publicizing our government’s illegal programs he’d be free to leave Russian and criticize their illegal actions.

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#39

Post by Arathorn »

unmole wrote: post #21
kosasbest wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just the Internet traffic being encrypted, it's the proliferation of alternative services that have popped up because of the leaks (Protonmail, Tutanota etc). Many services exist now that are because of the revelations, and it's not just about HTTPS. You can very readily install many tools & utilities that thwart the NSA dragnet. Think Signal, Matrix, Cryptomator, self-hosted Nextcloud, AD-blockers like uBlo…

> Many services exist now that are because of the revelations That's the narrative but doesn't really hold up to scrutiny. > Signal Moxie's original encrypted messaging apps date back to 2010 and Open Whisper was officially started in Jan 2013. > Matrix Came out of an effort to build a unified communications suite for corporations. > Cryptomator Never heard of it. More widely used solutions like Attic/Borg have been…

Matrix actually came out of frustration from implementing RCS, and wondering if we could do better. There was no influence from Snowden; the reason that Matrix is E2EE is just common sense to avoid smearing plaintext data everywhere.

Re: Tell HN: Edward Snowden hasn't tweeted since Russian invasion of Ukraine started

#40

Post by ncmncm »

mistersquid wrote: post #23
ncmncm wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Courage of convictions is an ideal to impose on yourself. You don't get to impose it on anybody else. You don't know enough about anybody's situation except your own.

> Courage of convictions is an ideal to impose on yourself. You don't get to impose it on anybody else. With due respect, I politely disagree. One may call out anyone for meeting or failing the courage of their convictions.

Edward Snowden has already sacrificed far more than we can reasonably ask of anybody.
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