Life 5 Years After Snowden: Still Powerless, But Now We are Aware

June 2013 marks a momentous turning point in our history - one that changed our entire worldview and continues to influence our actions years after. This was the first appearance of the thousands of classified US government documents stolen by Edward Snowden from the CIA and NSA. The documents detailed global mass surveillance activities by the Five Eyes Alliance, a revelation that would see Snowden branded a traitor by some and a hero by others. The question to ask now is what impact if any, the documents Snowden risked his life and freedom to acquire and release have had after five years.

The state of affairs in intelligence agencies

At first, the world wanted answers and accountability. Why would US security and intelligence agencies go so far as to spy on their people and for how long had it been going on? The government arranged for security, civil liberties, and policy experts to review the state of affairs at the time and recommend reforms. They issued reports that arranged for limits in the powers of security and intelligence agencies, especially pertaining to spying on their citizens.

While this was a good move, it was still far too weak. The recommendations held no merit and could easily be overruled by .... For instance, it was deemed necessary to apply “appropriate safeguards” to any collected information. One of the supposed safeguards was the destruction of collected information after five years. That is unless it is deemed necessary for "national security reasons". What that meant was that the NSA still had the mandate to maintain surveillance on US citizens and with the approval of the Director of National Intelligence, they could hold the information indefinitely.

After five years, it is clear that the NSA and CIA maintain their powers. Furthermore, there is no oversight or accountability to speak of, and it would be a safe bet that they continue their mass surveillance activities. The UK, instead of seeking positive reforms, decided to pursue legislation that provided their agencies with even higher power. Case in point, the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016. Again, there was no judicial oversight accommodated in the bill when it passed.

Legislative changes

Following the publishing of the documents, there was ensuing pressure from the public for action. What most of us wanted at the time was to see the government take responsibility and right the wrongs. Despite significant push-back from pro-surveillance supporters in the government, the American Congress passed the Freedom Act in 2015. This was the first meaningful anti-surveillance legislation after the Snowden leaks, and it proved that there was an end in sight for unregulated mass surveillance. The Freedom Act limited the powers of intelligence and security agencies and countered allowances in the Patriot Act that allowed for mass surveillance. Furthermore, the Obama administration set in place Net Neutrality rules that would allow for real freedom and equality on the internet. Where the public was concerned, this was a move in the right direction - a move that would allow for greater accountability and less illegal surveillance.

Five years down the line, however, we are exposed to a brutal reality. Most, if not all, of the positive strides made by the government in changing the law, are all negated. For instance, the beginning of the Trump administration marked the death of Net Neutrality.

Where the public stands

Our hopes for positive reforms were crushed under new oppressive reforms that continue to allow mass surveillance. To the public, it is evident that there will be little progress made as far as legal avenues are concerned. However, that really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Weighed against government interests internet freedom is a pipe dream.

One of the best things to come out of the Snowden leaks was increased public awareness. Five years ago, the government preyed on our ignorance and innocence. Majority of the world was none the wiser about global mass surveillance. However, today, in spite of our apparent powerlessness before an inconsiderate government, we remain firm in our awareness. This has given us both the will and tools we need to fight for our internet privacy, security and freedom.

The fight against mass surveillance

At the moment, a majority of the public understands that to fight against mass surveillance, one needs to combine multiple cybersecurity tools. VPNs are one of the most robust privacy tools out there. They allow one to encrypt their network information and achieve both data privacy and anonymity online. However, a sole VPN is insufficient against the powers of the NSA. It is best to combine a VPN with Tor for more significant privacy and security. Tor is one of the best anonymity tools available, but it still lacks in privacy. Using both ensures that they cover each other's weaknesses and reinforce the strengths.

Furthermore, there are dozens of advocacy groups fighting tirelessly for digital rights and liberties. While that remains an uphill battle with snail-pace progress, it is still one worth fighting. Since the Snowden leaks, such advocacy groups enjoy a greater following and increased support than they used to.

The Takeaway

If we’ve learned anything the past five years, it is the fact that the government will not bend to our whims when it comes to internet privacy, security, and freedom. That means that we have to fight for our security, privacy, and liberty with everything available to us. Our best tool, even as we hope for better reforms, is information. We can use the information available to us to gain a better understanding of our situation and the countermeasures available to us. That is one of the reasons why to most of us, Snowden will always be a hero for his selfless actions that provided us with invaluable information and a fighting chance against mass surveillance.