Tag Archives: National Security Agency

Blinding the Leviathan: the surveillance state and freedom

Posted on February 1, 2015 by lawrence serewicz

Governments use surveillance to keep their citizens safe and protect the regime. In that work, the government has to intrude into the lives of its citizens mainly in the public domain, in the pursuit of public order and safety, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, surveillance, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Blinding the Leviathan: the surveillance state and freedom

How Snowden’s naivety has harmed the NSA in his own words.

Posted on July 20, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

For many people, the NSA’s arguments against Snowden appear hollow as they lack a smoking gun. The NSA has not provided any evidence that the leaks have damaged their ability to collect intelligence and deal with terrorist threats. For some … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, statesmanship, strategy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Privacy and the political good.

Posted on July 7, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

What is missing from the debate on privacy, in general, and the debate over state surveillance, in particular, is the question of the political good either defended or promoted by constraining surveillance and protecting privacy. What is the political good … Continue reading →

Posted in censorship, corruption, privacy, strategy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Privacy and the political good.

If the NSA suppresses political dissent, why are they so bad at it?

Posted on May 31, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

I came across Barry Eisler’s post Motive, Means, and Opportunity: Why NSA Secrecy Should Worry Us All and I thought he would explain why secrecy was bad for a liberal democracy. Although he never discussed this issue, he did make … Continue reading →

Posted in censorship, Government, justice, philosophy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on If the NSA suppresses political dissent, why are they so bad at it?

Surveillance and the experience of technological sin

Posted on March 12, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

Throughout the furore over the NSA revelations, one thing that has remained constant is the way that technology companies and technologists have expressed a certain naiveté over politics. I do not mean that they are unaware of politics. Instead, I … Continue reading →

Posted in censorship, military, privacy, Uncategorized, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Edward Snowden and America’s suicide

Posted on February 12, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

The Snowden revelations are a wakeup call for the United States. He and his promoters have preached a jeremiad, but not the one most people believe they are hearing. Most people will believe they are trying to wake America up … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Surveillance, conformity and censorship: the reality and the myth

Posted on January 29, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

We have heard from many writers that when the NSA and GCHQ monitor the web and communications across the web they engage in censorship or the surveillance becomes a form of censorship because it chills the freedom of expression.[1] In … Continue reading →

Posted in censorship, Government, privacy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Snowden, Manning and Tsarnaev: is the only difference a pressure cooker?

Posted on December 26, 2013 by lawrence serewicz

If we answer this question with a tentative yes, we uncover a deeper problem for liberal democracy. Exasperated by politics, the political process, and society’s failure to change the political system, the three men[1] acted in their respective ways to … Continue reading →

Posted in censorship, education, Government, scholarship, statesmanship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

My response to the NSA public consultation

Posted on December 20, 2013 by lawrence serewicz

  Background note: In response to the Snowden leaks about the National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance program, a review group was created on August 12, 2013. President Obama directed the establishment of a Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies. Their mission … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, philosophy, privacy, transparency, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on My response to the NSA public consultation

Surveillance, Safety and the Rule of Law: Questions and Answers

Posted on December 18, 2013 by lawrence serewicz

We have heard many stories about the surveillance state and its power over the individual. We have heard that the United States has abused its position and its power to its advantage. Many people are outraged at what they believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, privacy, statesmanship, transparency, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Surveillance, Safety and the Rule of Law: Questions and Answers