One concern I had while I was working actively in the intelligence community - being someone who had broad access, who was exposed to more reports than average individuals, who had a better understanding of the bigger picture - was that the post - World War II, post - Cold War directions of societies were either broadly authoritarian or [broadly] liberal or libertarian.
Edward SnowdenProperly implemented strong crypto systems are one of the few things that you can rely on.
Edward SnowdenUS administration does not want me to return. People forget how I ended up in Russia. They waited until I departed Hong Kong to cancel my passport in order to trap me in Russia, because it's the most effective attack they have against me, given the political climate in the United States.
Edward SnowdenWhen people say, "I have nothing to hide," what they're saying is, "My rights don't matter."
Edward SnowdenIf the government or the parties won't address our needs, we will. It's about direct action, even civil disobedience.
Edward SnowdenI built my own studio. I don't have the professional language to describe it because I'm not a videographer - but I'm a technician. So I get the camera, I get all the things that translate the camera to the computer, I set up a live session, I do the security on it, I set up a background so I can key it out, like newscasters do, and replace it with whatever I want - and I can be anywhere I need to be.
Edward Snowden