Edward Snowden: From Computer Passion to Whistleblowing
At thirty years old, many of us are still trying to navigate the world of adulthood. However, at thirty years old, Edward Snowden was barricaded in a hotel in Hong Kong with three journalists to whom he would reveal one of the biggest secret mass surveillance programs ever undertaken by a state. The program, called PRISM, allowed the National Security Agency (NSA) to access real-time email, web searches, and other Internet traffic.
"Permanent Record" ("Errore di Sistema", in the Italian translation I read) Snowden's autobiography, is his attempt to explain the path that led him to become one of the most loved/hated whistleblowers in history. The book takes the reader through the most important stages of Snowden's life. Even during his childhood and adolescence, it becomes clear that his destiny is marked by the two worlds that would eventually blend in his mind. On one hand, there was his passion for computing and the early days of the Internet.
"For a brief and beautiful period, which fortunately coincided with my adolescence, the Internet was made by and for people. […]"
The Internet was not accessible to everyone. Only those who truly desired it had the skills, and interest had access.
On the other hand, there was his proximity to the world of state servants, represented by his parents and the city he lived in. A restless sense of duty towards citizens, perhaps mixed with a bit of American passion for heroes, led him to reveal the details of PRISM. A gesture that upended his life and the lives of those around him, abandoning a $ 250,000-a-year career, a life in Hawaii, and his freedom.
A one-way road, like in Super Mario.
"Ultimately, it was Super Mario Bros. that taught me what remains perhaps the most important lesson of my life. … There is no turning back, only going forward — for Mario and Luigi, for me, and for you. Life only scrolls in one direction, which is the direction of time, and no matter how far we might manage to go, that invisible wall will always be just behind us, cutting us off from the past, compelling us on into the unknown".
The book is an easy read but it can get a bit technical - though necessary for understanding the story.
For further reading:
In 2015, John Oliver interviewed the former CIA technician in Russia on his show Last Week Tonight. The interview begins around the 16-minute mark and is worth watching not only for Snowden's answers but also because he explains PRISM in simple terms.
In 2016, Oliver Stone released a film titled "Snowden."
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