--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's reasonable that the…" description: "\"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,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/edward-snowden-555_able_i-think-it-s-reasonable-that-the-governm_2118291.jpg" --- # I think it's reasonable that the government, when it has a… ![“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…” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/edward-snowden-555_able_i-think-it-s-reasonable-that-the-governm_2118291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/edward-snowden-555_able_i-think-it-s-reasonable-that-the-governm_2118291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/edward-snowden-555_able_i-think-it-s-reasonable-that-the-governm_2118291.jpg) > “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.” [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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Kicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kicks/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Scrutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrutiny/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When the police officers knock on your door with a warrant, they don't expect you to give them a tour. It's supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/when-the-police-officers-knock-on-your-door-with-a-warrant-they-don-t/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's OK if we wiretap Osama bin Laden. I want to know what he's planning - obviously not him nowadays, but that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-ok-if-we-wiretap-osama-bin-laden-i-want-to-know-what-he-s/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's widely accepted that it is reasonable for a government to use tax policy to change behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/it-s-widely-accepted-that-it-is-reasonable-for-a-government-to-use/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [Now, with a warrant, they can always go to the information service provider and attempt to get that information. But even then, they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-beckstrom/now-with-a-warrant-they-can-always-go-to-the-information-service/) [Rod Beckstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-beckstrom/) > [I seek no better warrant than my own, conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/i-seek-no-better-warrant-than-my-own-conscience/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Let's say tomorrow that there was a president, that we elected a president that eliminated the bulk collection of data. Let's just say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/let-s-say-tomorrow-that-there-was-a-president-that-we-elected-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [No one has the right to tell me what to do because he has a divine warrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/no-one-has-the-right-to-tell-me-what-to-do-because-he-has-a-divine/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I can find no warrant for such appropriation in the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-can-find-no-warrant-for-such-appropriation-in-the-constitution/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Corney & Barrow are proud to have the royal warrant, meaning that they provide the Palace with some of the greatest - and necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/corney-barrow-are-proud-to-have-the-royal-warrant-meaning-that-they/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [So many people say, ‘You know, your taxes aren’t taken by force,’ and that’s foolish. If you don’t pay your taxes and you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/so-many-people-say-you-know-your-taxes-aren-t-taken-by-force-and-that/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Enterprising law-enforcement officers with a warrant can flick a distant switch and turn a standard mobile phone into a roving mic or eavesdrop on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-zittrain/enterprising-law-enforcement-officers-with-a-warrant-can-flick-a/) [Jonathan Zittrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-zittrain/) > [“I guess you’ll just have to get used to having a police car outside the grocery store, the gym, and wherever it is you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/i-guess-you-ll-just-have-to-get-used-to-having-a-police-car-outside/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [I think so much of my life had me growing up under extreme poverty and really challenging conditions, with having the police in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-think-so-much-of-my-life-had-me-growing-up-under-extreme-poverty/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [“Your Fish Speakers aren’t an army, they’re a police force.” “By my name, I assure you that’s not so. Police are inevitably corrupted.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/your-fish-speakers-aren-t-an-army-they-re-a-police-force-by-my-name-i/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Having a police presence on public transport is vital to ensuring customers are safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-berejiklian/having-a-police-presence-on-public-transport-is-vital-to-ensuring/) [Gladys Berejiklian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-berejiklian/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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