--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think there's anything, any…" description: "\"I don't think there's anything, any threat out there today that anyone can point to, that justifies placing an entire population under mass surveillanc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/edward-snowden-555_justify_i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threa_130400.jpg" --- # I don't think there's anything, any threat out there today… ![“I don't think there's anything, any threat out there today that anyone can point to, that justifies placing an entire population under mass surveillance.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/edward-snowden-555_justify_i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threa_130400.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/edward-snowden-555_justify_i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threa_130400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/edward-snowden-555_justify_i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threa_130400.jpg) > “I don't think there's anything, any threat out there today that anyone can point to, that justifies placing an entire population under mass surveillance.” [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that no current threat justifies mass surveillance of an entire population. **In simple terms:** Mass surveillance lacks justification without clear threat. Key Takeaway Question the necessity of broad surveillance. Themes privacy surveillance civil liberties security ethics Mood critical serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - public debate - legislative review - privacy advocacy - media analysis - citizen activism Key Concepts political philosophy law technology policy Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports surveillance? - How can privacy be protected? A Different Perspective Security concerns may be cited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [If we don't do anything, if we go along with the status quo, we are going to have a mass surveillance world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-we-don-t-do-anything-if-we-go-along-with-the-status-quo-we-are/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [When I was working in Japan, I created a system for ensuring that intelligence data was globally recoverable in the event of a disaster.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/when-i-was-working-in-japan-i-created-a-system-for-ensuring-that/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ \[Bill\] Binney designed ThinThread, an NSA program that used encryption to try to make mass surveillance less objectionable. It would still have been unlawful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/bill-binney-designed-thinthread-an-nsa-program-that-used-encryption/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We have to argue forcefully and demand that the government recognise that these programmes do not prevent - mass surveillance does not prevent acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-have-to-argue-forcefully-and-demand-that-the-government-recognise/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We have to recognise that rights are being violated. The United Nations actually filed a report that found that that was the case, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-have-to-recognise-that-rights-are-being-violated-the-united/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If even one country, an Iceland for example, defects from this global legislative bargain and says no, we're not going to enforcement mass surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-even-one-country-an-iceland-for-example-defects-from-this-global/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I acted on my belief that the NSA's mass surveillance programs would not withstand a constitutional challenge, and that the American public deserved a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-acted-on-my-belief-that-the-nsa-s-mass-surveillance-programs-would/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We have the means and we have the technology to end mass surveillance without any legislative action at all, without any policy changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-have-the-means-and-we-have-the-technology-to-end-mass-surveillance/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [When we have some horrible terrorist attacks happen in some country we see in the recording that follows, that the intelligence community already knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/when-we-have-some-horrible-terrorist-attacks-happen-in-some-country/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [One of the foremost activities of the NSA's FAD, or Foreign Affairs Division, is to pressure or incentivize EU member states to change their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/one-of-the-foremost-activities-of-the-nsa-s-fad-or-foreign-affairs/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We have to call mass surveillance mass surveillance. We can't let governments around the world redefine, and sort of weasel their way out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-have-to-call-mass-surveillance-mass-surveillance-we-can-t-let/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I have used mass surveillance to target people, so I do know how it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-have-used-mass-surveillance-to-target-people-so-i-do-know-how-it/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [When we look at the full-on mass surveillance watching everyone in the country, in the United States, it doesn't work. It didn't stop the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/when-we-look-at-the-full-on-mass-surveillance-watching-everyone-in/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Someone recently talked about mass surveillance and the NSA revelations as being the atomic moment for computer scientists. The atomic bomb was the moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/someone-recently-talked-about-mass-surveillance-and-the-nsa/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The issue I brought forward most clearly was that of mass surveillance, not of surveillance in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-issue-i-brought-forward-most-clearly-was-that-of-mass/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## 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/) [Explore all 478 Edward Snowden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## More Justify quotes > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) Donald P. Ryan > [I have to justify my job every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-silva/i-have-to-justify-my-job-every-day/) [Marco Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-silva/) > [Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn't have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lodge/universities-are-the-cathedrals-of-the-modern-age-they-shouldn-t-have/) [David Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lodge/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [Advertising justifies its existence when used in the public interest-it is much too powerful a tool to use solely for commercial purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gossage/advertising-justifies-its-existence-when-used-in-the-public-interest/) [Howard Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gossage/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“I have heard several people justify working long hours and getting home from work late it night by saying things like, “I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/i-have-heard-several-people-justify-working-long-hours-and-getting/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [Islam expect every Muslim to do this duty, and if we realise our responsibility time will come soon when we shall justify ourselves worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/islam-expect-every-muslim-to-do-this-duty-and-if-we-realise-our/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Human beings have the incredible capacity for denial. I think they do. And although it's really hard to believe, I have my doubts. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/human-beings-have-the-incredible-capacity-for-denial-i-think-they-do/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [You can have immediate regrets, but if you look at stuff and say, 'Things happen for a reason', there's a fatalistic thing about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/you-can-have-immediate-regrets-but-if-you-look-at-stuff-and-say/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) Browse all 1,155 Justify quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think there's anything, any threat out there today that anyone can point to, that justifies placing an entire population under mass surveillance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threat-out-there-today-that-anyone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Justify" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threat-out-there-today-that-anyone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/edward-snowden-555_justify_i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threa_130400.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/edward-snowden-555_justify_i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threa_130400.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/edward-snowden-555_justify_i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threa_130400.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think there's anything, any threat out there today that anyone can point to, that justifies placing…” — Edward Snowden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Edward Snowden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think there's anything, any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threat-out-there-today-that-anyone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-any-threat-out-there-today-that-anyone/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```