Mock Interview with Edward Snowden - Assignment Example

Running Hear: A Mock Interview I had with Edward Snowden. Interviewer: Good morning Edward, I wish to request your permission for an interview on documents you released to journalists. Edward Snowden: No problem, you can ask me anything and I will answer you. Interviewer: If you don’t mind please share with me your work history in a nutshell. Edward Snowden: Sure, I enlisted in the National Army in the year 2003 and began my training for joining the Special Forces with the hope of working for humanity especially in Iraq. From there I landed the first job as a gourd for NSA’s Maryland University covert facility. I later worked for the CIA as an IT security expert. I rose very fast due to my expertise in programming and knowledge of the internet and in 2007 I was posted to Geneva with full diplomatic privileges. In 2009 I left CIA and took up a job with a private contracting companying. I was posted to work at an NSA facility at an army base in Japan. Throughout my working I have learned our government is doing the exact opposite of what it purports to do in our name. Interviewer: What inspired you to hand over such sensitive information to the media knowing it was top secret? Edward Snowden: I have worked thought in security settings, and more particularly in the settings of information security. I can assure you what the government is doing against you against law the very laws it is supposed to protect are a lot. They pretend to be following the law, protecting your security, your privacy and working for the interest of the nation when in actual sense they are just working for their interests. They intercept all your telephone conversations; your activity on social media is spied on in the name of national security including your very private pictures yet the law protects the privacy of every individual. I thought things would change when President Barrack Obama was elected but to my shock, whistleblowers have been prosecuted at an alarming rate in this administration. It came to my realization that I was just part of the harm and nothing was going to happen to make the truth known unless I acted myself on what I strongly believe in. My experience of what our government is doing against us and other people the world over informs and more especially my stint in Geneva strongly informed my decision to do at least something. Interviewer: Do you ever ponder the fact that it was actually wrong to release the documents and circulate them against our employer and government? Didn’t you think you were betraying and actually sabotaging? Edward Snowden: One may want to look at it the same way you are doing but for me it was a bigger picture. A strong believe in the rule of law, the right for privacy as envisaged in America’s own constitution and equality for all are principles dear to my heart. I worked shortly in the military, at the CIA, NSA and for private companies. As an expert in matters IT I have had exposure to many programs by the governments which are in total violation of the rights of individuals such as tapping of all communications in the US, forcibly obtaining your transcripts l consent. I thought the truth should be told and I knew nothing was going to be done unless I did something myself. That is why did not want to exchange the information for money but chose to give it to journalists whom I thought would responsibly use it to spark constructive debates. Interviewer: Did your intent to harm anyone by disclosing the sensitive security files? Edward Snowden: Not at all, in fact there was a lot that I could have handed over but I selectively chose to make sure everything I gave was legally in the interest of the public. Harming other people is not anywhere near my heart but transparency is and that is why am not worried of anyone; I know I have just done the right thing even if the consequences might be dire but at least I did for humanity. If I intended to instigate harm on some people or disclose the information for malicious reasons then I would have turned the information to some countries in return for money and protection. I did none of that but chose to give the document to journalists whose judgmental ability on what goes public I highly trusted. My intention was just to put to the citizenry across that globe that what is done for them and what is done against them, I wanted to elicit a debate among them on the kind of world we live in. Interviewer: After the action why did you chose to fly to Hong Kong instead of seeking asylum in some country like Ecuador maybe? Edward Snowden: I chose the city for “they have a spirited commitment to free speech and the right of political dissent.” I also know and believe this is amount the few places around the world able to resist dictation from the American government. Why I did not seek asylum is because even now I am not afraid of anything. I know I have done nothing wrong though I might be made to suffer for this. Interviewer: Did you care about what would become of you after releasing the documents? Edward Snowden. I can tell you I had a good job with salary of about $200,000, I had a girlfriend and lived well but I thought it was not the best thing to have a world with unequal opportunities. I knew while handing over the files that I would made to suffer for that but I personally will get a lot of satisfaction if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers ruling my beloved world are known even just for a moment. I only fear for my girlfriend and family members most of whom are working in the US government. The impact on them could be long-term as I won’t be able to assist them anymore. Interviewer: Given an opportunity to reverse the actions you did would you do that considering the controversy it has caused? Edward Snowden: As a matter of principle I believe in equality for all, respect for the rule law and fundamental rights of individuals such as privacy. Given the opportunity I would do just what is right for our democracy, for the interest of the public and would love it if citizens all over the place could know what actually happens in the background in the name of national interest. So far the debate sparked by the disclosures is a healthy one; citizens are focusing on their rights, the kind of world we live in and the state of democracy. This was my goal in disclosing the files and I think am satisfied with the reception my actions have received. That I am very secure I think is a total accident; I honestly did not expect it so but believe the publicity my disclosures have gained so far make it difficult for anyone to think of getting dirty. Interviewer: What can you say as your final remarks in terms of ethics on the whole story? Edward Snowden: I think it is more ethical when the rights of every individual are respected, the rule of law is upheld and the truth is told because that way then democracy will be guaranteed. I want to urge every person out there and defend what is right without fear of victimization and if it will mean paying dearly then so be it. Am convinced I didn’t the right thing in the interest of every person and therefore am not afraid of anything. References. 1. Glen Greenwald. (2013). Edward Snowden: The Wshistleblower Behind the NSA Surveillance Relations. The Gourdian. Available at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa- whistleblower-surveillance Read More