[LINK] The Alternative Christmas Message 2013

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

In the U.K., TV Channel 4 has broadcast a video by Edward Snowden entitled
"The Alternative Christmas Message 2013" shortly after the BBC broadcast 
the Queen's traditional Christmas Message. In her message, the Queen also 
spoke of the need for a private space for personal thoughts.

Here is a transcript of Snowden's "Alternative Christmas Message" ..

Hi, and merry Christmas.

I'm honored to have a chance to speak with you and your family this year.

Recently we learned that our governments, working in concert, have created 
a system of worldwide mass surveillance, watching everything we do. 

Great Britain's George Orwell warned us of the danger of this kind of 
information. The types of collection in his book - microphones and video 
cameras, TVs that watch us - are nothing compared to what we have available 
today. 

We have sensors in our pockets that track us everywhere we go.

Think about what this means for the privacy of the average person. 

A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all. 

And that's a problem because privacy matters. Privacy is what allows us to 
determine who we are, and who we want to be.

The conversation occurring today will determine the amount of trust we can 
place both in the technology that surrounds us, and the government that 
regulates it.

Together, we can find a better balance, end mass surveillance, and remind 
the government that if it really wants to know how we feel, asking is 
always cheaper than spying.

For everyone out there listening, thank you and merry Christmas.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/alternative-christmas-
message/4od#3629294

Cheers,
Stephen

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