Security Expert Bruce Schneier: History Will Hail Edward Snowden As A Hero

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/bruce-schneier-on-edward-snowden-2013-6



***SNIP

But should the information Snowden released have even been classified in the first place? Schneier elaborates:

"Keeping things secret from the people is a very dangerous practice in a democracy, and the government is permitted to do so only under very specific circumstances. Reading the documents leaked so far, I don't see anything that needs to be kept secret."

Surely the existence of a surveillance program such as Prism doesn't need to be kept classified. Shouldn't it be the information gathered by the program that's kept under tight wraps? If Snowden had hypothetically leaked a public figure's search history or details of private phone calls, surely that's the greater wrong that confirming the existence of domestic spying technology.

We're inclined to agree with Scheneier's conclusion here:

"I believe that history will hail Snowden as a hero – his whistle-blowing exposed a surveillance state and a secrecy machine run amok. I'm less optimistic of how the present day will treat him, and hope that the debate right now is less about the man and more about the government he exposed."



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/bruce-schneier-on-edward-snowden-2013-6#ixzz2W6hdNFo5

[longship]

1. I have been hoping that Schneier would chime in.

He's the go to guy on security and the guy who invented the term security theater

This guy has tons of cred, in my book.

[Monkie]

12. more importantly, he designed encryption algorithms

well respected in the security industry would be a understatement.
he was involved in computer security before most of the users on this site had even seen the internet.

[William769]

2. Kick & recommended.

[xchrom]

3. Kick

[sibelian]

4. K+R

[ProSense]

5. It remains to be seen, but

Edward Snowden broke the law by releasing classified information. This isn't under debate; it's something everyone with a security clearance knows. It's written in plain English on the documents you have to sign when you get a security clearance, and it's part of the culture. The law is there for a good reason, and secrecy has an important role in military defense.

But before the Justice Department prosecutes Snowden, there are some other investigations that ought to happen.

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/06/prosecuting_sno.html

...that doesn't bode well for Snowden. Also given that this was published in the NYT before the recent revelations, the "hero" thing might not pan out.

(Snowden)...Showed Hong Kong Newspaper Documents Revealing US Hacking Attacks On China (updated 2x)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023001669

[xchrom]

6. The world is full of imperfect vessels.

You're a strong supporter of some one I consider to a weak vessel.

[ProSense]

8. See,

"The world is full of imperfect vessels. You're a strong supporter of some one I consider to a weak vessel."

...I always knew this was about personalities. Snowden must be defined as hero who stood up to the "week vessel."

Who would that be?

[xchrom]

10. Oy vey.

You like to pretend a high road you have no right to.

[ProSense]

14. I think this

"You like to pretend a high road you have no right to."

...is a case of projecting ("You're a strong supporter of some one I consider to a weak vessel.&quot

[ljm2002]

11. Well what doesn't remain to be seen...

...is that Bruce Schneier has more credibility on this topic than 99.9999999.....% of the people in existence. And that most definitely includes you, sweetie.

[ProSense]

13. Well,

"Well what doesn't remain to be seen......is that Bruce Schneier has more credibility on this topic than 99.9999999.....% of the people in existence. And that most definitely includes you, sweetie. "

...I wasn't challenging his "credibility." Agreeing or disagreeing with him has no impact on his credibility. He expressed an opinion about the how Snowden would be viewed in the future, and I said it remains to be see.

He said Snowden "broke the law," that fact "isn't under debate," and that "the law is there for a good reason," and he acknowledged that the Justice Department will prosecute Snowden.

I agree, "sweetie."

[ljm2002]

18. "He expressed an opinion "...

..."about the how Snowden would be viewed in the future, and I said it remains to be see. "

You're getting a bit sloppy there, dearie. Must have riled you. Good.

[backscatter712]

7. K&R: Schneier is the expert to listen to in these matters. n/t

[ljm2002]

9. Very glad he weighed in...

...he is a very, very sane and careful thinker on these issues. Besides being brilliant -- but that does not guarantee sanity or common sense. So I'm glad he has decided to comment.

Snowden's latest thing with China is troubling, to say the least; however, he has certainly sparked a very widespread discussion of the national security state that we have built, and that can only be a good thing IMO.

[creon]

15. forgotten

It is quite likely that he will be forgotten just as Phillip Agee has been

[cali]

16. this should NOT be about Snowden

[limpyhobbler]

17. rec/kick. eom