Attacks Quote by Edward Snowden
“The majority of terrorist attacks that have been disrupted in the United States have been disrupted due to things like the Time Square bomber, who was caught by a hotdog vendor, not a mass surveillance program, not a cyber-espionage campaign.”
About This Quote
The quote points out that many thwarted terrorist attacks in the U.S. resulted from ordinary citizens' vigilance rather than sophisticated surveillance or cyber operations, emphasizing the power of public awareness and reporting.
In simple terms: Every thwarted thwart often comes from ordinary people, not high‑tech surveillance.
Key Takeaway
Encourage public vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity.
Themes
security
citizen involvement
counterterrorism
public awareness
law enforcement
Mood
alert
responsible
protective
Type
public safety
citizen empowerment
preventive
When to use this quote
- neighborhood watch
- public safety campaigns
- media alerts
Key Concepts
community vigilance
human intelligence
preventive action
citizen reporting
law enforcement collaboration
Questions to Reflect On
- What incentives can motivate citizens to report responsibly?
- How can authorities balance vigilance with civil liberties?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on citizens may lead to false reports or privacy concerns.
![“[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)
