Able Quote by Edward Snowden
“I think it's reasonable that the government, when it has a warrant from a court, when it's exposed to scrutiny by a legal process that would be upheld, not just nationally, but internationally as a reliable and robust standard rights protection, they can enjoy certain powers. This is no different from having the police able to get a warrant to go and search your house, to kick at your door because they think you're an arms dealer or something like that. There needs to be a process involved, it needs to be public, and it needs to be challengeable in court at all times.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview with The Guardian, 2013
Legal authority for surveillance must be transparent, subject to judicial oversight, and contestable to protect rights.
In simple terms: Surveillance needs clear, challengeable legal process.
Key Takeaway
Ensure oversight and accountability.
Themes
privacy
government power
legal oversight
rights
transparency
Mood
cautious
serious
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- court orders
- law enforcement
- national security
- international standards
Key Concepts
rule of law
civil liberties
due process
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies maintain security without eroding privacy?
- What mechanisms ensure accountability?
A Different Perspective
Balancing security and liberty can be politically contentious.
![“[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 sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
