Beyond Snowden

Privacy, Mass Surveillance, and the Struggle to Reform the NSA

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International, International Security, Social Science
Cover of the book Beyond Snowden by Timothy H. Edgar, Brookings Institution Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Timothy H. Edgar ISBN: 9780815730644
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press Publication: August 29, 2017
Imprint: Brookings Institution Press Language: English
Author: Timothy H. Edgar
ISBN: 9780815730644
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Publication: August 29, 2017
Imprint: Brookings Institution Press
Language: English

Safeguarding Our Privacy and Our Values in an Age of Mass Surveillance

America’s mass surveillance programs, once secret, can no longer be ignored. While Edward Snowden began the process in 2013 with his leaks of top secret documents, the Obama administration’s own reforms have also helped bring the National Security Agency and its programs of signals intelligence collection out of the shadows. The real question is: What should we do about mass surveillance?

Timothy Edgar, a long-time civil liberties activist who worked inside the intelligence community for six years during the Bush and Obama administrations, believes that the NSA’s programs are profound threat to the privacy of everyone in the world. At the same time, he argues that mass surveillance programs can be made consistent with democratic values, if we make the hard choices needed to bring transparency, accountability, privacy, and human rights protections into complex programs of intelligence collection. Although the NSA and other agencies already comply with rules intended to prevent them from spying on Americans, Edgar argues that the rules-most of which date from the 1970s-are inadequate for this century. Reforms adopted during the Obama administration are a good first step but, in his view, do not go nearly far enough.

Edgar argues that our communications today-and the national security threats we face-are both global and digital. In the twenty first century, the only way to protect our privacy as Americans is to do a better job of protecting everyone’s privacy. Beyond Surveillance: Privacy, Mass Surveillance, and the Struggle to Reform the NSA explains both why and how we can do this, without sacrificing the vital intelligence capabilities we need to keep ourselves and our allies safe. If we do, we set a positive example for other nations that must confront challenges like terrorism while preserving human rights. The United States already leads the world in mass surveillance. It can lead the world in mass surveillance reform.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Safeguarding Our Privacy and Our Values in an Age of Mass Surveillance

America’s mass surveillance programs, once secret, can no longer be ignored. While Edward Snowden began the process in 2013 with his leaks of top secret documents, the Obama administration’s own reforms have also helped bring the National Security Agency and its programs of signals intelligence collection out of the shadows. The real question is: What should we do about mass surveillance?

Timothy Edgar, a long-time civil liberties activist who worked inside the intelligence community for six years during the Bush and Obama administrations, believes that the NSA’s programs are profound threat to the privacy of everyone in the world. At the same time, he argues that mass surveillance programs can be made consistent with democratic values, if we make the hard choices needed to bring transparency, accountability, privacy, and human rights protections into complex programs of intelligence collection. Although the NSA and other agencies already comply with rules intended to prevent them from spying on Americans, Edgar argues that the rules-most of which date from the 1970s-are inadequate for this century. Reforms adopted during the Obama administration are a good first step but, in his view, do not go nearly far enough.

Edgar argues that our communications today-and the national security threats we face-are both global and digital. In the twenty first century, the only way to protect our privacy as Americans is to do a better job of protecting everyone’s privacy. Beyond Surveillance: Privacy, Mass Surveillance, and the Struggle to Reform the NSA explains both why and how we can do this, without sacrificing the vital intelligence capabilities we need to keep ourselves and our allies safe. If we do, we set a positive example for other nations that must confront challenges like terrorism while preserving human rights. The United States already leads the world in mass surveillance. It can lead the world in mass surveillance reform.

More books from Brookings Institution Press

Cover of the book Whatever Happened to the Washington Reporters, 1978-2012 by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book Working Longer by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book The Terrorist Argument by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book The Year I Was Peter the Great by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book Looking for Leadership by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) Development by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book Dance of the Trillions by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book The Little Book of Campaign Etiquette by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book Ambivalent Engagement by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book America's Challenge by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book The Arab Awakening by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book The Pursuit of Happiness by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book Social Ethics in a Changing China by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book The Medical Marijuana Mess by Timothy H. Edgar
Cover of the book The Transformation of Title IX by Timothy H. Edgar
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy