--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's critical how we want to use these…" description: "\"It's critical how we want to use these spy programs, these electronic capabilities, where we want to draw the line, and who should approve these progra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg" --- # It's critical how we want to use these spy programs, these… ![“It's critical how we want to use these spy programs, these electronic capabilities, where we want to draw the line, and who should approve these programs, these decisions, and at what level, for engaging in operations that could lead us as a nation into a war.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg) > “It's critical how we want to use these spy programs, these electronic capabilities, where we want to draw the line, and who should approve these programs, these decisions, and at what level, for engaging in operations that could lead us as a nation into a war.” [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. He stresses the need for clear policies, oversight, and accountability when deploying surveillance technologies to avoid unintended warlike outcomes. **In simple terms:** Need oversight for spy programs to prevent escalation. Key Takeaway Demand transparent rules and oversight for surveillance. Themes privacy surveillance policy ethics Mood concerned analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - government agencies - technology firms - legislative bodies Key Concepts Governance risk assessment national security Questions to Reflect On - Who should decide the limits of surveillance? - What safeguards prevent misuse? A Different Perspective Balancing security with civil liberties is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capabilities Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capabilities-want-5897984/) [Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) [Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/) [Critical Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-want-664637/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Electronic Capabilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electronic-capabilities-5897983/) [Engaging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaging/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operations/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Programs Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programs-decisions-5897985/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Spy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy/) [Spy Programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy-programs-5897982/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [It's tempting to be critical and to want to change others, but remember that change must come from within and it's not up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/it-s-tempting-to-be-critical-and-to-want-to-change-others-but/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [Obviously, being an actor I am very self-critical and I will always want to serve the fans, but I've always tried to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-chalotra/obviously-being-an-actor-i-am-very-self-critical-and-i-will-always/) [Anya Chalotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-chalotra/) > [The United States has faced threats from criminal groups, from terrorists, from spies throughout our history, and we have limited our responses. We haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-united-states-has-faced-threats-from-criminal-groups-from/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [People in both parties from the congressional intelligence committees - all these co-opted officials who play cheerleader for spy agencies - go on these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/people-in-both-parties-from-the-congressional-intelligence-committees/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [A political decision has been made not to irritate the intelligence community. The spy agencies are really embarrassed, they're really sore - the revelations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-political-decision-has-been-made-not-to-irritate-the-intelligence/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I've been a spy for almost all of my adult life - I don't like being in the spotlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-ve-been-a-spy-for-almost-all-of-my-adult-life-i-don-t-like-being-in/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The question that we, as a society, have to ask is, are our collective rights worth a small relative advantage in our ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-question-that-we-as-a-society-have-to-ask-is-are-our-collective/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Someone responding to the story said 'real spies do not speak like that'. Well, I am a spy and that is how they talk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/someone-responding-to-the-story-said-real-spies-do-not-speak-like/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's clear the CIA was trying to play 'keep away' with documents relevant to an investigation by their overseers in Congress, and that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-clear-the-cia-was-trying-to-play-keep-away-with-documents/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Ask yourself: if I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn't I have flown directly into Beijing? I could be living in a palace petting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/ask-yourself-if-i-were-a-chinese-spy-why-wouldn-t-i-have-flown/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm not a spy for Russia or China or any other country for that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-m-not-a-spy-for-russia-or-china-or-any-other-country-for-that-matter/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [You could say that all novels are spy novels and all novelists are spy masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/you-could-say-that-all-novels-are-spy-novels-and-all-novelists-are/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I find a difference in British spy fiction and American spy fiction. In the American version, it's more militaristic, partly because the CIA has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-cumming/i-find-a-difference-in-british-spy-fiction-and-american-spy-fiction/) [Charles Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-cumming/) > [Dominion is a spy novel, a love story, and also I hope gives some sense of the difficulties faced by dissidents under any totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/dominion-is-a-spy-novel-a-love-story-and-also-i-hope-gives-some-sense/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) ## 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 Capability quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We artists give daily thanks for the miracle of our planet and for the inclination and the capability to honour it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-artists-give-daily-thanks-for-the-miracle-of-our-planet-and-for/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Few men realize that their life, the very essence of their character, their capabilities and their audacities, are only the expression of their belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/few-men-realize-that-their-life-the-very-essence-of-their-character/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [One of the capabilities, which seems to be the most difficult for aspiring leaders to maste is realistic optimism. It requires one to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/one-of-the-capabilities-which-seems-to-be-the-most-difficult-for/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [You have the capability to change your life all with a simple shift in perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-have-the-capability-to-change-your-life-all-with-a-simple-shift/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [If you are facing a new challenge or being asked to do something that you have never done before don’t be afraid to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-you-are-facing-a-new-challenge-or-being-asked-to-do-something-that/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Clearly, if wed had the kind of computer graphics capability then that we have now, the Star Gate sequence would be much more complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-trumbull/clearly-if-wed-had-the-kind-of-computer-graphics-capability-then-that/) [Douglas Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-trumbull/) > [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/) > [I'm just confident in myself and my capability to be able to play this position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/i-m-just-confident-in-myself-and-my-capability-to-be-able-to-play/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [The Iranians know that if they develop nuclear weapons, they will be in tremendous jeopardy from military capabilities of their neighbors and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-iranians-know-that-if-they-develop-nuclear-weapons-they-will-be/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [I have proved my capability to everyone - my fans and critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshad-warsi/i-have-proved-my-capability-to-everyone-my-fans-and-critics/) [Arshad Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshad-warsi/) > [I will then ask for a plan to immediately protect those vulnerabilities and then fix them.At the same time, we will invest heavily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-then-ask-for-a-plan-to-immediately-protect-those/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I've seen people recover physical abilities, yet never get over emotional trauma after a serious accident. I've seen other people overcome the psychological and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/i-ve-seen-people-recover-physical-abilities-yet-never-get-over/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) [Browse all 801 Capability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's critical how we want to use these spy programs, these electronic capabilities, where we want to draw the line, and who should approve these programs, these decisions, and at what level, for engaging in operations that could lead us as a nation into a war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-spy-programs-these-electronic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-spy-programs-these-electronic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/edward-snowden-555_capability_it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-s_2381091.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's critical how we want to use these spy programs, these electronic capabilities, where we want to draw…” — 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": "It's critical how we want to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-spy-programs-these-electronic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-critical-how-we-want-to-use-these-spy-programs-these-electronic/#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 } } ] } ```