Noam Chomsky: Global Discontents and the Rising Threats to Democracy
Source: The American Empire Project
An excerpt from Noam Chomsky’s book Global Discontents: Conversations on the Rising Threats to Democracy:
STATE SPYING AND DEMOCRACY
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS (JUNE 20, 2013)
Edward Snowden’s revelations of widespread state surveillance of Internet and telephone communications have caused some consternation here in the United States—and around the world. Were you at all surprised by the government’s electronic dragnet?
Somewhat—not a lot. I think we can take for granted that if technology or other means of control and domination are available, then power systems are going to use them. Take the recent revelations about the relationship between the National Security Agency (NSA) and Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is a synonym for the commercial use of surveillance. The NSA is going to Silicon Valley for help, because the commercial enterprises have been doing this already, on a great scale, and they have the technological expertise. So apparently, a private security officer was brought to the NSA to help them develop sophisticated techniques of surveillance and control.1
