We have now learned that nothing is private. Every e-mail, every phone call, every text message can be seen by the US if it wants to do so. We are told that we need not worry because if we have nothing to hide, we have nothing to fear. But that is a false argument.
In real life, many people have things to hide. I come from South Africa, where the government was not always good. The law itself was not always good. The people who broke the law and remained at large needed to tell their side of the story. They need to trust the media. How can they do that if the government see all?
If the government has all the control and is able to spy on anyone, anytime, anywhere, we are in trouble. We don't want to live in a world where the most powerful government on Earth is unaccountable.
You might also like:
- Op-Ed: Edward Snowden has given a new definition to patriotism, but his future is dim
- Op-Ed: Like Bradley Manning, US whistleblower Edward Snowden's actions should be commended