TechTweets


	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 With @Snowden book coming out, I'm hearing multiple respected people in the industry say "the domestic programs were wrong, I just don't agree with how he released the data." I get where these people are coming from, but let's examine why this is a hollow argument. 1/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 It's worth noting that I don't endorse Snowden's actions, but I DO have a better understanding than most what his options really were. So let's talk about that a little. First, it's easy to say "but whistleblower protections!" That is the WORST POSSIBLE argument to use here. 2/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 Intelligence community contractors didn't have whistleblower protections in 2013 when Snowden leaked. But the US government recognized what a problem this was and fixed it, right? Um, no. No they didn't. There may be a Snowden 2.0 festering in the IC right now as a result. 3/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 What about "he shouldn't have gone to Hong Kong"? Okay, but this assumes that anyone who wants to leak illegal activity by the IC should be ready to go to prison themselves. I'm not sure I'm there. I want people to be able to out illegal activity without threat of prison. 4/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 The there's the question of "why did he go to Russian then"? But that just demonstrates you don't know history (or refuse to Google). Russia was not the first country to offer Snowden asylum. Each country that offered before Russia withdrew the asylum offer. 5/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 I can only assume there was a systematic operation by the State Department to pressure these other countries to withdraw their asylum offers. Russia just honey badgered it. Honestly, I think we created the Russia issue and it seems odd to focus on it now. 6/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 Another popular argument is "but Snowden must be giving Putin information now." I'm not sure I believe this. His very presence in Russia is a middle finger to the US. The US housed not-insignificant numbers of Soviet political refugees during the cold war for the same reason. 7/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 Finally, I'll address "but why did he take more information than the domestic surveillance program info"? I think the simple answer is that Snowden didn't know what he didn't know. Ironically, the same who make the "too much data" argument like to hint at his lack of access. 8/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 But we DO know that Snowden uncovered programs that effectively turned the Constitution into a Choose Your Own Adventure book. He watched DNI Clapper and Gen. Alexander (DIRNSA) lie about these programs, under oath, to oversight committees. This is indisputable. 9/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 I do then think it's reasonable to ask "what else don't I know?" If you can get there, then I totally understand why he would take whatever he could get his hands on. If the goal is to leak data about illegal classified programs, why limit the scope? 10/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 Anyway, I'll close with this: 1. There is no question the IC was breaking the law. The public only knows about it because of Snowden. 2. I'm no supporter of Snowden, but I also recognize this isn't a black and white issue. It's shades of grey. 11/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 3. Feel free to hold any opinion on his actions you want, but FFS educate yourself before sharing. For instance, before saying "treason" know the ACTUAL definition of the word and then be ready to explain how his actions amount to that. Any less is irresponsible hyperbole... 12/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 4. I won't be engaging sealions looking to argue in bad faith. I am not "human Google." Use Google to seek out facts before responding/asking for clarification of my positions. 13/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 5. I spent a lot of time away from my family engineering legitimate intelligence collection missions. Many of those suffered substantially from information revealed by the press as a result of the Snowden leaks. There is no love here. "Hate" is too strong, but so is "like" 14/
	Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15 6. Lots of other people in the IC saw this illegal collection activity and looked the other way. I always find it curious nobody ever wants to talk about that. Because every one of those people took an oath to defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign AND domestic /FIN

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

With @Snowden book coming out, I'm hearing multiple respected people in the industry say "the domestic programs were wrong, I just don't agree with how he released the data." I get where these people are coming from, but let's examine why this is a hollow argument. 1/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

It's worth noting that I don't endorse Snowden's actions, but I DO have a better understanding than most what his options really were. So let's talk about that a little.

First, it's easy to say "but whistleblower protections!" That is the WORST POSSIBLE argument to use here. 2/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

Intelligence community contractors didn't have whistleblower protections in 2013 when Snowden leaked. But the US government recognized what a problem this was and fixed it, right? Um, no. No they didn't. There may be a Snowden 2.0 festering in the IC right now as a result. 3/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

What about "he shouldn't have gone to Hong Kong"? Okay, but this assumes that anyone who wants to leak illegal activity by the IC should be ready to go to prison themselves. I'm not sure I'm there. I want people to be able to out illegal activity without threat of prison. 4/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

The there's the question of "why did he go to Russian then"? But that just demonstrates you don't know history (or refuse to Google). Russia was not the first country to offer Snowden asylum. Each country that offered before Russia withdrew the asylum offer. 5/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

I can only assume there was a systematic operation by the State Department to pressure these other countries to withdraw their asylum offers. Russia just honey badgered it. Honestly, I think we created the Russia issue and it seems odd to focus on it now. 6/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

Another popular argument is "but Snowden must be giving Putin information now." I'm not sure I believe this. His very presence in Russia is a middle finger to the US. The US housed not-insignificant numbers of Soviet political refugees during the cold war for the same reason. 7/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

Finally, I'll address "but why did he take more information than the domestic surveillance program info"? I think the simple answer is that Snowden didn't know what he didn't know. Ironically, the same who make the "too much data" argument like to hint at his lack of access. 8/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

But we DO know that Snowden uncovered programs that effectively turned the Constitution into a Choose Your Own Adventure book. He watched DNI Clapper and Gen. Alexander (DIRNSA) lie about these programs, under oath, to oversight committees. This is indisputable. 9/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

I do then think it's reasonable to ask "what else don't I know?" If you can get there, then I totally understand why he would take whatever he could get his hands on. If the goal is to leak data about illegal classified programs, why limit the scope? 10/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

Anyway, I'll close with this:
1. There is no question the IC was breaking the law. The public only knows about it because of Snowden.
2. I'm no supporter of Snowden, but I also recognize this isn't a black and white issue. It's shades of grey. 11/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

3. Feel free to hold any opinion on his actions you want, but FFS educate yourself before sharing. For instance, before saying "treason" know the ACTUAL definition of the word and then be ready to explain how his actions amount to that. Any less is irresponsible hyperbole... 12/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

4. I won't be engaging sealions looking to argue in bad faith. I am not "human Google." Use Google to seek out facts before responding/asking for clarification of my positions. 13/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

5. I spent a lot of time away from my family engineering legitimate intelligence collection missions. Many of those suffered substantially from information revealed by the press as a result of the Snowden leaks. There is no love here. "Hate" is too strong, but so is "like" 14/

Jake Williams @MalwareJake · Sep 15

6. Lots of other people in the IC saw this illegal collection activity and looked the other way. I always find it curious nobody ever wants to talk about that. Because every one of those people took an oath to defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign AND domestic /FIN