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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

#11

Post by kosasbest »

unmole wrote: post #7
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…

> Like, 90% of sites are encrypted now How much does that have to do with Snowden vs. Let's Encrypt.

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 uBlock Origin etc.

This guy sparked a privacy revolution.

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

#12

Post by notfromhere »

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...

That became hard to swallow when he ended up in Russia.

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

#13

Post by nowherebeen »

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 would literally be putting his life in danger. He isn’t putting out tweets in support. Therefore, his silence means that is his best option for the moment. You can’t expect someone to put his life on the line for you to feel justified. It’s not his country.

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

#14

Post by mistersquid »

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.

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

#15

Post by mrpf1ster »

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.

He acted on principle and conviction by whistleblowing. Look how far that got him.

Easy to call for being courageous when your not the one facing life in prison.

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

#16

Post by ncmncm »

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.

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.

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

#17

Post by rufus_foreman »

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 invasion Biden scheduled for tomorrow morning at 3AM, I'm not saying your journalistic credibility was instrumentalized as part of one of those disinformation campaigns you like to write about, but you should at least consider the possibility."

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

#19

Post by javajosh »

In addition to what other commenters have said I would imagine Snowden is keeping a particularly low profile since he represents a significant bargaining chip for Russia with the USA. The more fraught that relationship is the more likely one or both sides will reach for all the bargaining chips they have.

It's really outrageous to me that one of the few things the Democrats and Republicans can agree on is the unjust vilification of Edward Snowden. Someone who gave up an amazing life to protect and defend the American people against illegal surveillance by their own government. It should be just about as clear a hero's story as you get and yet here we are.

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

#20

Post by mistersquid »

mrpf1ster wrote: post #15
mistersquid wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

He acted on principle and conviction by whistleblowing. Look how far that got him. Easy to call for being courageous when your not the one facing life in prison.

> Easy to call for being courageous when your not the one facing life in prison.

The ease with which one points out the courage of another’s convictions is distinct from the courage of the subject of attention.

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