Edward Snowden speaks to TED conference through a robot (video)

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      NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden today (March 18) addressed Vancouver's TED conference.

      Unlike other TED2014 speakers, Snowden spoke through a robot, answering questions from TED curator Chris Anderson.

      Anderson told the $7,500-a-ticket crowd that Snowden was controlling the bot with his laptop from a "remote location somewhere in Russia".

      Here's what Snowden said in response to a headline reporting that U.S. spies want him dead:

      You know, it's no mystery that there are governments out there that want to see me dead. I've made clear again and again and again that I go to sleep every morning thinking about what I can do for the American people. I don't want to harm my government. I want to help my government. But the fact that they're willing to completely ignore due process, they're willing to declare guilt without ever seeing a trial, these are things that we need to work against as a society and say, "Hey, this is not appropriate." We shouldn't be threatening dissidents. We shouldn't be criminalizing journalism. And whatever part I can do to see that end I'm happy to do despite the risks.

      Anderson asked the audience if they considered Snowden's release of classified documents in 2013 a "reckless act" or a "heroic act". While more attendees raised their hands in support of the latter stance, a few backed the former, and many didn't move in their seats at all.

      Usually, people wait for weeks or months after a conference to see selected TED talks for free online, but TED posted Snowden's talk hours after it happened.

      Comments

      1 Comments

      Concerned citizen

      Mar 19, 2014 at 9:31am

      I would like to point out what was actually said. He said that the NSA has been recording ALL calls made in a foreign country, and close ally to the USA.

      That is us.

      Canada is first comes to mind, seeing as CSEC and NSA/Cia are closely intertwined. Heck, harper appointed Governor General David Johnston is the CEO of CGI, a multinational company responsible for many surveillance contracts (spying)for CSEC, the NSA, CIA, Dept of Homeland, and others. Since his appointment, CGI have been doing consulting for over 90 government departments, including Canada Post. As soon as harper took power, he awarded them over 51billion in contracts, almost over night. At this time, his wife had substantial shares of CGI, which were in turn sold shortly after they contracts were awarded, making her a small fortune. Contracts to this firm and other private consultants are now costing Canadians billions a year for sub-par services that have replaced viable and cost effective government employees.

      The CGI group are also mail delivery and logistics consultants, who have their sights on ALL Crown mail corporations, ramping up the eventual take over of Canada Post, UPS, British Royal Mail (who they now run) Dutch mail service, and more.

      These are not conspiracy theories, but facts stating another blatant conflict of interest the media chooses to ignore.

      CGI awarded CSEC contract, now has new multi-billion dollar facility:
      http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/cgi-to-launch-defence-and-...

      Millions wasted on contractors and middlemen:
      http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/feds-wasting-millions-on-middlemen-agencie...

      Feds 'monitoring' social media, correcting 'misinformation':
      http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/feds-to-monitor-social-media-round-the-c...

      $51 billion in contracts awarded to CGI
      http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/pd-dp/pdc-dpm/reports-rapports-eng.php?y...

      Mckay okays NSA style spying in Canada: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/14/what-do-we-know-about-can_n_3440...