--- title: "10 Capability Quotes By Edward Snowden" description: "10 Capability quotes by Edward Snowden. Plus more from Edward Snowden and more Capability sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/edward-snowden-555_bugs_you-are-not-even-aware-of-what-is-possib_2834159.jpg" --- > [You are not even aware of what is possible. The extent of their capabilities is horrifying. We can plant bugs in machines.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-not-even-aware-of-what-is-possible-the-extent-of-their/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/edward-snowden-555_bugs_you-are-not-even-aware-of-what-is-possib_2834159.jpg) > [The NSA has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything. With this capability, the vast majority of human communications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-nsa-has-built-an-infrastructure-that-allows-it-to-intercept/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/edward-snowden-555_built_the-nsa-has-built-an-infrastructure-that_2371938.jpg) > [As a general rule, US-based multinationals should not be trusted until they prove otherwise. This is sad, because they have the capability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-general-rule-us-based-multinationals-should-not-be-trusted-until/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/edward-snowden-555_capability_as-a-general-rule-us-based-multinational_137607.jpg) > [When you use any kind of internet based capability, any kind of electronic capability, to cause damage to a private entity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/when-you-use-any-kind-of-internet-based-capability-any-kind-of/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/edward-snowden-555_actors_when-you-use-any-kind-of-internet-based_408241.jpg) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/edward-snowden-555_capability_we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technol_43987.jpg) > [It's critical how we want to use these spy programs, these electronic capabilities, where we want to draw the line, and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-spy-programs-these-electronic/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg) > [What the NSA really wants is the capability of retrospective investigation. They want to have a perfect record of the last five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/what-the-nsa-really-wants-is-the-capability-of-retrospective/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/edward-snowden-555_attention_what-the-nsa-really-wants-is-the-capabil_920203.jpg) > [America is a fundamentally good country. We have good people with good values who want to do the right thing. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/america-is-a-fundamentally-good-country-we-have-good-people-with-good/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/edward-snowden-555_america_america-is-a-fundamentally-good-country_138896.jpg) > [I would say the first key concept is that, in terms of technological and communication progress in human history, the Internet is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-would-say-the-first-key-concept-is-that-in-terms-of-technological/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/edward-snowden-555_capability_i-would-say-the-first-key-concept-is-tha_2261846.jpg) > [ \[Bill\] Binney will argue with you all day about ThinThread, but his idea was that it would collect everything about everybody but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/bill-binney-will-argue-with-you-all-day-about-thinthread-but-his-idea/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/edward-snowden-555_arguing_bill-binney-will-argue-with-you-all-day_1448117.jpg) ## Other authors on Capability ## More by Edward Snowden > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The NSA and Israel wrote Stuxnet together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-nsa-and-israel-wrote-stuxnet-together/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [As a general rule, so long as you have any choice at all, you should never route through or peer with the UK under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-general-rule-so-long-as-you-have-any-choice-at-all-you-should/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ \[Brazil\] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-new-standards-for-this-we-need/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We need to think about encryption not as this sort of arcane, black art. It's a basic protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-need-to-think-about-encryption-not-as-this-sort-of-arcane-black/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-lot-of-people-in-2008-voted-for-obama-i-did-not-vote-for-him-i/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too often we forget that social and political movements don't happen overnight. They don't bring change immediately - you have to build a critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/too-often-we-forget-that-social-and-political-movements-don-t-happen/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ There was a real choice when \[Barack Obama\] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obama-became-president-it-was-a/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's much easier, I think, to protect communications while they're in transit at least, than it is to enforce legislation in every country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-much-easier-i-think-to-protect-communications-while-they-re-in/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I care more about the country than what happens to me. But we can't allow the law to become a political weapon or agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-care-more-about-the-country-than-what-happens-to-me-but-we-can-t/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/edward-snowden/#itemlist", "name": "10 Capability Quotes By Edward Snowden", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You are not even aware of what is possible. The extent of their capabilities is horrifying. We can plant bugs in machines. Once you go on the network, I can identify your machine. 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They want to have a perfect record of the last five years of your life, so when you come to their attention, they can know everything about you. I'm not down with that, but [Bill] Binney was trying to create something like that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/what-the-nsa-really-wants-is-the-capability-of-retrospective/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/edward-snowden-555_attention_what-the-nsa-really-wants-is-the-capabil_920203.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/edward-snowden-555_attention_what-the-nsa-really-wants-is-the-capabil_920203.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/edward-snowden-555_attention_what-the-nsa-really-wants-is-the-capabil_920203.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What the NSA really wants is the capability of retrospective investigation. 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But the structures of power that exist are working to their own ends to extend their capability at the expense of the freedom of all publics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/america-is-a-fundamentally-good-country-we-have-good-people-with-good/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/edward-snowden-555_america_america-is-a-fundamentally-good-country_138896.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/edward-snowden-555_america_america-is-a-fundamentally-good-country_138896.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/edward-snowden-555_america_america-is-a-fundamentally-good-country_138896.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America is a fundamentally good country. We have good people with good values who want to do the right…” — Edward Snowden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would say the first key concept is that, in terms of technological and communication progress in human history, the Internet is basically the equivalent of electronic telepathy. We can now communicate all the time through our little magic smartphones with people who are anywhere, all the time, constantly learning what they're thinking, talking about, exchanging messages. And this is a new capability even within the context of the Internet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-would-say-the-first-key-concept-is-that-in-terms-of-technological/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/edward-snowden-555_capability_i-would-say-the-first-key-concept-is-tha_2261846.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/edward-snowden-555_capability_i-would-say-the-first-key-concept-is-tha_2261846.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/edward-snowden-555_capability_i-would-say-the-first-key-concept-is-tha_2261846.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would say the first key concept is that, in terms of technological and communication progress in human…” — Edward Snowden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Bill] Binney will argue with you all day about ThinThread, but his idea was that it would collect everything about everybody but be immediately encrypted so no one could read it. Only a court could give intelligence officials the key to decrypt it. The idea was to find a kind of a compromise between [privacy rights and] the assertion that if you don't collect things as they happen, you won't have them later - because what the NSA really wants is the capability of retrospective investigation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/bill-binney-will-argue-with-you-all-day-about-thinthread-but-his-idea/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/edward-snowden-555_arguing_bill-binney-will-argue-with-you-all-day_1448117.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/edward-snowden-555_arguing_bill-binney-will-argue-with-you-all-day_1448117.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/edward-snowden-555_arguing_bill-binney-will-argue-with-you-all-day_1448117.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[Bill] Binney will argue with you all day about ThinThread, but his idea was that it would collect…” — Edward Snowden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/edward-snowden/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/edward-snowden/", "name": "Capability Quotes by Edward Snowden", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/edward-snowden/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/edward-snowden-555_bugs_you-are-not-even-aware-of-what-is-possib_2834159.jpg" }, "description": "10 Capability quotes by Edward Snowden. Plus more from Edward Snowden and more Capability sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/edward-snowden/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/edward-snowden/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Capability", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Edward Snowden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/edward-snowden/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```