--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The community of technical experts who…" description: "\"The community of technical experts who really manage the internet, who built the internet and maintain it, are becoming increasingly concerned about th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/edward-snowden-555_activity_the-community-of-technical-experts-who-r_1001972.jpg" --- # The community of technical experts who really manage the… ![“The community of technical experts who really manage the internet, who built the internet and maintain it, are becoming increasingly concerned about the activities of agencies like the NSA or Cyber Command, because what we see is that defense is becoming less of a priority than offense.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/edward-snowden-555_activity_the-community-of-technical-experts-who-r_1001972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/edward-snowden-555_activity_the-community-of-technical-experts-who-r_1001972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/edward-snowden-555_activity_the-community-of-technical-experts-who-r_1001972.jpg) > “The community of technical experts who really manage the internet, who built the internet and maintain it, are becoming increasingly concerned about the activities of agencies like the NSA or Cyber Command, because what we see is that defense is becoming less of a priority than offense.” [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. Highlights concern that offensive cyber operations are prioritized over defensive security, threatening internet stability. **In simple terms:** Offense outweighs defense in cyber policy, raising risks. Key Takeaway Advocate for stronger defensive cybersecurity measures. Themes security policy technology privacy Mood serious concerned Type analytical political When to use this quote - internet governance - national security - corporate cybersecurity Key Concepts offense vs defense government surveillance Questions to Reflect On - How can defense be strengthened? - What are the trade‑offs of offensive cyber tactics? A Different Perspective May understate defensive successes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agency/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Command Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command-defense-2120852/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) [Cyber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyber/) [Cyber Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyber-command-816536/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Defense Priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-priority-2120851/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Increasingly Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increasingly-concerned-2120850/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Like Nsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-nsa-1739648/) [Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage/) [Nsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nsa/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) ## Related quotes > [A big factor is that the enthusiast camp's values are really rooted in Silicon Valley and in these supposedly new business models. But again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/a-big-factor-is-that-the-enthusiast-camp-s-values-are-really-rooted/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [President Obama's reckless defense cuts that are hanging over our cloud, hanging over the horizon could put almost 44,000 jobs at stake right here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/president-obama-s-reckless-defense-cuts-that-are-hanging-over-our/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [If you ask anybody at Cyber Command or look at any of the job listings for openings for their positions, you'll see that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-you-ask-anybody-at-cyber-command-or-look-at-any-of-the-job/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Cyber Command is supposed to be defending our critical infrastructure at home, but they are spending so much time looking at how to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/cyber-command-is-supposed-to-be-defending-our-critical-infrastructure/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [At the tail end of the great global boom, their old richer consumers are behaving more like new poorer ones, also increasingly concerned about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-curry/at-the-tail-end-of-the-great-global-boom-their-old-richer-consumers/) [Andrew Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-curry/) > [“But there is much that cannot go into books, and that is the loss with which I become increasingly concerned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/but-there-is-much-that-cannot-go-into-books-and-that-is-the-loss-with/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [We will also make it a priority to develop defensive and offensive cyber capabilities at our U.S. Cyber Command and recruit the best and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-also-make-it-a-priority-to-develop-defensive-and-offensive/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“On October 1, 2009, a general took charge of the new U.S. Cyber Command, a military organization with the mission to use information technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-clarke/on-october-1-2009-a-general-took-charge-of-the-new-u-s-cyber-command/) [Richard A. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-clarke/) > [I will also ask my secretary of defense and joint chiefs to present recommendations for strengthening and augmenting our cyber command. As a deterrent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-also-ask-my-secretary-of-defense-and-joint-chiefs-to-present/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We have an unparalleled cybersecurity corridor, which includes Fort Meade, U.S. Cyber Command, and major defense companies. Maryland has had these assets for decades,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/we-have-an-unparalleled-cybersecurity-corridor-which-includes-fort/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [The United States Cyber Command was created partly in response to a Russian hacking attack that long predated the 2016 election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-united-states-cyber-command-was-created-partly-in-response-to-a/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) > [ I believe that when \[senator Ron\] Wyden and \[senator Mark\] Udall asked about the scale of this, they \[the NSA\] said it did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-believe-that-when-senator-ron-wyden-and-senator-mark-udall-asked/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [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/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The community of technical experts who really manage the internet, who built the internet and maintain it, are becoming increasingly concerned about the activities of agencies like the NSA or Cyber Command, because what we see is that defense is becoming less of a priority than offense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-community-of-technical-experts-who-really-manage-the-internet-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-community-of-technical-experts-who-really-manage-the-internet-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/edward-snowden-555_activity_the-community-of-technical-experts-who-r_1001972.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/edward-snowden-555_activity_the-community-of-technical-experts-who-r_1001972.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/edward-snowden-555_activity_the-community-of-technical-experts-who-r_1001972.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The community of technical experts who really manage the internet, who built the internet and maintain it…” — 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": "The community of technical experts who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-community-of-technical-experts-who-really-manage-the-internet-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-community-of-technical-experts-who-really-manage-the-internet-who/#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 } } ] } ```