State of Surveillance
While you’re reading this, your government may be searching your contacts, checking your text messages, and uploading photos you’ve stored on your phone without your knowledge. This is the new reality of the post-9/11 era. Most of the world’s citizens became aware of this disturbing phenomenon for the first time through the controversial actions of whistleblower Edward Snowden. In their new documentary titled “The State of Surveillance,” VICE travels to Russia, where Snowden is currently living safely away from U.S. pursuit, to delve into his expertise.
As discussed in the first part of the film, a recent example of US government control of personal digital devices became apparent after the San Bernardino terrorist attack. After haggling with Apple, the government managed to hack the perpetrator’s phone itself. But that’s a capability they’ve always had, Snowden claimed.
At a table across from VICE host Sean Smith, Snowden was dissecting an average cell phone — the kind used by billions of people around the world. He gave an example of how the internals of any phone can act as a means by which agencies can track your every move.
The intrusion doesn’t stop on your phone or laptop. Drone surveillance — a spying technique that enables organizations like the CIA to monitor countries like Iraq and Afghanistan for suspected terrorist activity — is now being used by the U.S. government on its own soil. In many cases, these drones are not used to detect potential terrorist threats, but to support citizen-led protests, such as the recent one in Ferguson, Missouri. According to Snowden and others interviewed for the film, missions like these are driven by the government’s desire to suppress and block the will and rights of its people.
Apathy and ignorance only worsen our right to privacy. The State of Surveillance expects that insidious security breaches like this will continue to occur until the public becomes more aware and expresses their displeasure.
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