Defected Quote by Edward Snowden
“If I defected at all, I defected from the government to the public”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, 2013
He claims his defection was from government secrecy to public transparency.
In simple terms: Defected to the public.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize transparency over secrecy.
Themes
whistleblowing
transparency
government
Mood
critical
controversial
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- policy reform
- public advocacy
Key Concepts
ethics
information freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- When does secrecy protect the public?
- How to balance openness with safety?
A Different Perspective
Transparency can endanger national security.
![“[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)
