--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To do that they, the NSA specifically…" description: "\"To do that they, the NSA specifically, targets the communications of everyone. It ingests them by default. It collects them in its system and it filter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/edward-snowden-555_achieve_to-do-that-they-the-nsa-specifically-tar_2373225.jpg" --- # To do that they, the NSA specifically, targets the… ![“To do that they, the NSA specifically, targets the communications of everyone. It ingests them by default. It collects them in its system and it filters them and it analyses them and it measures them and it stores them for periods of time simply because that's the easiest, most efficient, and most…” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/edward-snowden-555_achieve_to-do-that-they-the-nsa-specifically-tar_2373225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/edward-snowden-555_achieve_to-do-that-they-the-nsa-specifically-tar_2373225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/edward-snowden-555_achieve_to-do-that-they-the-nsa-specifically-tar_2373225.jpg) > “To do that they, the NSA specifically, targets the communications of everyone. It ingests them by default. It collects them in its system and it filters them and it analyses them and it measures them and it stores them for periods of time simply because that's the easiest, most efficient, and most valuable way to achieve these ends. So while they may be intending to target someone associated with a foreign government or someone they suspect of terrorism, they're collecting you're communications to do so.” [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 NSA mass‑collects communications indiscriminately because it is the most efficient way to gather intelligence, even when targeting specific threats. **In simple terms:** NSA gathers everyone’s data for efficiency. Key Takeaway Recognize the trade‑off between security and privacy. Themes surveillance privacy security government technology Mood concerned critical serious Type political informational When to use this quote - policy debate - journalism - legal challenges - public awareness Key Concepts mass data collection filtering analysis metadata retention Questions to Reflect On - How should societies balance security with individual privacy? - What safeguards could limit indiscriminate data gathering? A Different Perspective Mass collection raises civil‑rights concerns and potential abuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government spying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-spying/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ 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/) > [You simply have to eventually fall under suspicion from somebody even by a wrong call. And then they can use this system to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-simply-have-to-eventually-fall-under-suspicion-from-somebody-even/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The government has granted itself power it is not entitled to. There is no public oversight. The result is people like myself have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-government-has-granted-itself-power-it-is-not-entitled-to-there/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I do not expect to see home again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-do-not-expect-to-see-home-again/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The majority of people in developed countries spend at least some time interacting with the Internet, and Governments are abusing that necessity in secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-majority-of-people-in-developed-countries-spend-at-least-some/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Everyone everywhere now understands how bad things have gotten — and they’re talking about it. They have the power to decide for themselves whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/everyone-everywhere-now-understands-how-bad-things-have-gotten-and/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [They are intent on making every conversation and every form of behaviour in the world known to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/they-are-intent-on-making-every-conversation-and-every-form-of/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [There are more important things than money. If I were motivated by money, I could have sold these documents to any number of countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/there-are-more-important-things-than-money-if-i-were-motivated-by/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Allowing the U.S. government to intimidate its people with threats of retaliation for revealing wrongdoing is contrary to the public interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/allowing-the-u-s-government-to-intimidate-its-people-with-threats-of/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Any analyst at any time can target anyone. Any selector, anywhere I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/any-analyst-at-any-time-can-target-anyone-any-selector-anywhere-i/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions, and that the return of this information to the public marks my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-understand-that-i-will-be-made-to-suffer-for-my-actions-and-that/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I believe that at this point in history, the greatest danger to our freedom and way of life comes from the reasonable fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-believe-that-at-this-point-in-history-the-greatest-danger-to-our/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I know the media likes to personalize political debates, and I know the government will demonize me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-know-the-media-likes-to-personalize-political-debates-and-i-know/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I don't want to live in a world where there's no privacy, and therefore no room for intellectual exploration and creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-want-to-live-in-a-world-where-there-s-no-privacy-and/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The greatest fear that I have regarding the outcome for America of these disclosures is that nothing will change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-greatest-fear-that-i-have-regarding-the-outcome-for-america-of/) [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 Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. 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