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If you are NOT willing to give up personal data, then you’ll want to listen to Edward Snowden’s interview on the Joe Rogan podcast. Snowden reveals his life experiences in the CIA and details the process and subsequent backlash of exposing the United States government and big tech about collecting your personal data.
Edward Snowden, a former CIA computer technician who had access to many of the United States intelligence secrets, revealed the surveillance practices of the National Security Agency (NSA) to the public, causing such an uproar and fear in Snowden that he may never see his home again. Snowden believed that the public deserved to decide for themselves whether the United States surveillance practices were ethical or not. Over the last six years, Snowden has hidden in various asylums in other countries and is now in a Russian asylum. He has said that he would return to the United States if they would grant him a fair trial, but that currently isn’t on the U.S. government’s agenda.
With 6.6m subscribers on Youtube and millions of other followers across different audio platforms, the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) is a podcast force to be reckoned with. JRE is a long-format podcast that allows guests to have a free-flowing conversation/interview. This style of interview has an important place in today’s media as it gives the guest a chance to open up and articulate thoughtful responses. Many interviews today may seem choppy or the guests feel rushed to provide a response into a soundbite. The Joe Rogan Experience gives guests a chance to relax and talk about whatever they’re feeling, which is rare in today’s media culture. Some of Rogan’s most notable podcasts include Elon Musk, Bernianders, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
During his podcast with Snowden, the guest explained how the government and big tech are working together are monitoring and collecting copious amounts of data on you, primary through your mobile use. This data gathering is referred to as ‘bulk collection’ and is being stored on a ‘permanent record’ on servers across multiple agencies and companies. Snowden’s interview lasted more than two hours; he offered a lot of detail…
One of the topics of conversation that is extremely relevant is cell phone surveillance. Snowden discussed the practical implications of cell phone use and our total dependence on mobile devices. “The phone is turned off—at least the screen is off. And if someone sends you a message, the screen blinks to life. How does that happen?” Snowden said.
Snowden also explained how there isn’t enough information available to the public about their cell phones or other mobile devices given the widespread dependency of it.
“Where were you when you were eight years old? Where’d you go after you had a bad breakup? Who’d you spend the night with? Who’d you call after? All this information used to be ephemeral, meaning it disappeared like the morning dew. It would be gone. No one would remember it, but now these things are stored. Now these things are saved. It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing anything wrong, it doesn’t matter whether you’re the most ordinary person on earth, because that’s how bulk collection, which is the government’s euphemism for mass surveillance works.” Edward Snowden, 2019
Topics such as national security and personal privacy can be controversial, to say the least. Edward Snowden, without a doubt, broke the law when he shared what he knows, but he argues that the US government has been doing the same since 2004 with warrantless spring via the Stellar Wind program.
So, do you think Snowden’s whistleblowing actions were justified, or is he an enemy of the state? You decide – let’s see your thoughts in the comment section.
“Our data became a commodity before we understood what it was. It became this thing that’s insanely valuable to Google and Facebook and all these social media platforms. Before we understood what we were giving up, they were making billions of dollars. And then once that money is being earned and once everyone’s accustomed to this situation, it’s very difficult to pull the reigns back. It’s very difficult to turn that horse around.” Edward Snowden, 2019
Watch the entire podcast here Joe Rogan Experience #1368 – Edward Snowden
Authored by: Joshua Konecke and Kevin Dohm
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NO NO NO!
Nice story!
NOT EVER!