Does Russia spy on millions? Edward Snowden asks Vladimir Putin on live TV

[webfact]

Does Russia spy on millions? Edward Snowden asks Vladimir Putin on live TV
Sergei L. Loiko

Moscow: -- Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who was granted asylum in Russia, made a surprise appearance on Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual televised call-in session to ask if the country conducts mass surveillance like the United States does.

Mr Snowden's revelations about US spying practices set off a national debate about the trade-offs between security and privacy.

"Recently in the United States, two independent White House investigations, as well as the federal court, all concluded that these programs are ineffective in stopping terrorism," Mr Snowden said via video link from an undisclosed location on Thursday, local time.

"They also found that they unreasonably intrude into the private lives of ordinary citizens - individuals who have never been suspected of any wrongdoing or criminal activity - and that these kinds of programs are not the least intrusive means available to such agencies for these investigative purposes.

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/world/does-russia-spy-on-millions-edward-snowden-asks-vladimir-putin-on-live-tv-20140418-zqw5o.html


-- The Age 2014-04-18

[hard124get]

No, cos spying on the masses is proven to be ineffective.

[Kudzu]

KGB, Big Brother and etc. watching you...

We have to watch next turn of USA, Putin exciting.

[rickirs]

Putin's response to Snowden: don't bother with a change of address if you push that question.

[Jingthing]

That was a softball question. Snowden being a toady to Putin, solidifying his position as Most Wanted TRAITOR by the U.S. government.

If he had cajones, he would have asked -- does Russia systematically and aggressively suppress independent voices in the Russian PRESS and can you explain why, Mr. PUTIN, so many Russian journalists die MYSTERIOUSLY?

[ggt]

Here was Putin's answer:

"First of all, the use of special means by special services is strictly regulated by the law here. And this regulation includes the need to get a court permission to [conduct surveillance on] a specific individual. And this is why it doesn't have a massive, unselective character here, and cannot have in accordance with the law.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/does-russia-spy-on-millions-edward-snowden-asks-vladimir-putin-on-live-tv-20140418-zqw5o.html#ixzz2zEaSgGX7

[mdmayes]

Here was Putin's answer:

"First of all, the use of special means by special services is strictly regulated by the law here. And this regulation includes the need to get a court permission to [conduct surveillance on] a specific individual. And this is why it doesn't have a massive, unselective character here, and cannot have in accordance with the law.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/does-russia-spy-on-millions-edward-snowden-asks-vladimir-putin-on-live-tv-20140418-zqw5o.html#ixzz2zEaSgGX7

So he is admitting that they do spy on Russian citizens!

[Jingthing]

Snowden allowed himself to be used as a Putin propaganda tool. How this man is a hero to freedom lovers is beyond all logic. Putin is an obvious dictator.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/04/17/edward-snowdens-cowardice-on-russian-tv/

As tens of thousands of Russian troops threatened Ukraine, Snowden on Thursday played a set piece in Vladimir Putin’s latest act of propaganda, appearing on a televised question-and-answer session with the Russian president. Snowden began with a denunciation of American data collection practices and then asked Putin a timid question about Russia’s policy on Internet surveillance. Putin responded, misleadingly, that Russia has laws restraining state security agents and judicial and political oversight of surveillance operations. The Russian president said he hopes — hopes! — Russia never conducts intrusive data collection.

...


It is one thing to break an oath to keep U.S. secrets. The U.S. government persistently over-classifies material. Even if not all of Snowden’s revelations were helpful, some leaks are necessary. But Snowden surrendered any remaining shred of dignity on Thursday. If he had any choice in the matter, he should have declined to appear. If he did not have a choice, he should have surrendered to the U.S. embassy before humiliating himself. If he could not do even that, he should have protested when it was his turn to play his part. Instead, he revealed his bankruptcy of principle.

[Saradoc1972]

Here was Putin's answer:

"First of all, the use of special means by special services is strictly regulated by the law here. And this regulation includes the need to get a court permission to [conduct surveillance on] a specific individual. And this is why it doesn't have a massive, unselective character here, and cannot have in accordance with the law.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/does-russia-spy-on-millions-edward-snowden-asks-vladimir-putin-on-live-tv-20140418-zqw5o.html#ixzz2zEaSgGX7

So he is admitting that they do spy on Russian citizens!

If you read the linked text in the original post he even says "Off course we are doing it.", but only in single cases to prevent criminal behaviour such as terrorism.

The answer in itself might even be the naked truth. Next question would be: what constitutes criminal behaviour in the Russian Federation and will dissenters be confronted with trumped up charges and hence be spied on?

The "in accordance with the law" drivel is of course a well-worn red herring, that's just what the NSA and GCHQ will state, mantra-like. And forget about the court permission, doesn't work even in Germany.

[Saradoc1972]

That was a softball question. Snowden being a toady to Putin, solidifying his position as Most Wanted TRAITOR by the U.S. government.

If he had cajones, he would have asked -- does Russia systematically and aggressively suppress independent voices in the Russian PRESS and can you explain why, Mr. PUTIN, so many Russian journalists die MYSTERIOUSLY?

I suppose Snowden has some drawers in his appartment, but I guess you mean "cojones", i.e. balls.

That's a bit unfair, as the whole thing was obviously staged for Putin to present himself. As a matter of fact, they allowed Ed to ask a question in line with his own agenda, i.e. unwarranted mass-surveillance.

Now, If you were in his shoes with an outlook of having to acquire a taste for Russian food for the rest of your life and you're being politely asked to participate with a question in line whith what you actually want to promote, what would you do?

Calling that propaganda is a bit tricky. Everything could be called propaganda with a view to the circumstances.

We got a movie classic in Germany The Fire Tongs Bowl from 1944 which is just some light entertainment about highschool antics and totally void of any Nazi themes and war topics,

and it has still been called propaganda as it could have been useful strengthening morale for taking off the populances' mind off things.

[jamhar]

That guy makes me want to vomit.

watching this video was worse!

[Jingthing]

That was a softball question. Snowden being a toady to Putin, solidifying his position as Most Wanted TRAITOR by the U.S. government.

If he had cajones, he would have asked -- does Russia systematically and aggressively suppress independent voices in the Russian PRESS and can you explain why, Mr. PUTIN, so many Russian journalists die MYSTERIOUSLY?

I suppose Snowden has some drawers in his appartment, but I guess you mean "cojones", i.e. balls.

That's a bit unfair, as the whole thing was obviously staged for Putin to present himself. As a matter of fact, they allowed Ed to ask a question in line with his own agenda, i.e. unwarranted mass-surveillance.

Now, If you were in his shoes with an outlook of having to acquire a taste for Russian food for the rest of your life and you're being politely asked to participate with a question in line whith what you actually want to promote, what would you do?

Calling that propaganda is a bit tricky. Everything could be called propaganda with a view to the circumstances.

We got a movie classic in Germany The Fire Tongs Bowl from 1944 which is just some light entertainment about highschool antics and totally void of any Nazi themes and war topics,

and it has still been called propaganda as it could have been useful strengthening morale for taking off the populances' mind off things.

Snowden is over his head. He obviously doesn't really want to be in Russia, Ecuador would be much better but that didn't work out for him, and he knows going back to the U.S. means prison. He's being used by a dictator of a thugocracy ... period. Any purity of moral purpose that people imagined he once had is long ago lost. I'm sure this wasn't his dream growing up, to be Putin's clown, but that's what he's become.

[Scott]

A post citing something as a fact without a link has been removed.

[Credo]

And can only assume that since Russia is the new home of the free and the brave, that the net migration to places like Russia, Ukraine and Crimea is higher than the people trying to leave.

[atyclb]

Re; Snowden Truth becomes treason in a dictatorship. Guess the question now is which dictator is the lesser of the 2 evils, Obama or Putin? It used to be Soviet citizens seeking asylum in the arms of america. these roles seem to have reversed as of late. For arguments sake lets say russia does the same thing (spying on all its people) That doesn't lessen, justify or excuse the so called cradle of democracy, shining light of exceptional-ism (US) from doing it does it?

Snowden allowed himself to be used as a Putin propaganda tool. How this man is a hero to freedom lovers is beyond all logic. Putin is an obvious dictator.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/04/17/edward-snowdens-cowardice-on-russian-tv/

As tens of thousands of Russian troops threatened Ukraine, Snowden on Thursday played a set piece in Vladimir Putin’s latest act of propaganda, appearing on a televised question-and-answer session with the Russian president. Snowden began with a denunciation of American data collection practices and then asked Putin a timid question about Russia’s policy on Internet surveillance. Putin responded, misleadingly, that Russia has laws restraining state security agents and judicial and political oversight of surveillance operations. The Russian president said he hopes — hopes! — Russia never conducts intrusive data collection.

...


It is one thing to break an oath to keep U.S. secrets. The U.S. government persistently over-classifies material. Even if not all of Snowden’s revelations were helpful, some leaks are necessary. But Snowden surrendered any remaining shred of dignity on Thursday. If he had any choice in the matter, he should have declined to appear. If he did not have a choice, he should have surrendered to the U.S. embassy before humiliating himself. If he could not do even that, he should have protested when it was his turn to play his part. Instead, he revealed his bankruptcy of principle.

[Credo]

Snowden is 1 person, hardly an influx of people fleeing to Russia. Snowden also did not want to stay in Russia, he was writing to everybody and their dog trying to find a country to take him. Seems either they didn't want him or Russia won't allow him to leave.

Snowden, if you recall, started his little misadventure in Hong Kong, the Chinese then sent him on his way to Russia.

The day Snowden got on a plane to HK, his freedom ended. He doesn't get to go where he wants and he doesn't get to say what he wants.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted.