As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness.
Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
On 23 August 2013, UK’s Mail Online reported
Newly published top-secret documents show that the United States government has reimbursed tech companies like Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Microsoft millions of dollars each year for their participation in the National Security Agency’s clandestine Prism surveillance program that was made public earlier this year by NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden.
Further, the documents – obtained by the Guardian newspaper from Snowden – show that the reimbursements were made even after a court ruled in 2011 that the agency’s activities were unconstitutional.
Hat tip to Mel Gibbs-Squires Esq. and Nathaniel Davis Esq. for sharing the quote and article.
Privacy is an important defense of freedom. Take a look at these privacy resources:
- American Library Association (ALA) Guide to FBI in your Library
- Follow UPenn Professor Dave Farber and FCC Chief Technologist, aka “Grandfather of the Internet”
- Electronic Privacy Information Center
EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values.
EPIC publishes an award-winning e-mail and online newsletter on civil liberties in the information age – the EPIC Alert. We also publish reports and even books about privacy, open government, free speech, and other important topics related to civil liberties.