The third ear

Once again the news takes George Orwell's place on the bookshelf. Edward Snowden, the former CIA employee who exposed the huge National Security Agency surveillance program, has dropped another bomb: The British, through their Government Communications Headquarters espionage agency, has been eavesdropping on pretty much everything. Every trans-Atlantic conversation or email between the U.S. and Britain had a third listener tuning in. Maybe it's time to say that the war on terror should have boundaries. Freedom and privacy are no less important than security and welfare.

The Washington Post reported over the weekend that the U.S. had appealed to Hong Kong to extradite Snowden, from where he had greatly embarrassed first Washington and now London. At the current rate, I would not be surprised if citizens who support Snowden (and there are many) respond with countersuits. Show me one person who likes being listened in on.

The British espionage program Tempura, which was exposed by Snowden, was quite ambitious. The Guardian, which has received a journalistic gold mine from Snowden, revealed how the British succeeded in keeping up with a world that has reached 2 billion Internet users. The person in charge of the eavesdropping work was given the following message by his superiors: "You are in a privileged position ... you have access to vast and confidential data ... if you have any ethical or legal doubts, please report them. Your work is a source of envy for others ... enjoy." It really does need to be read twice to be believed.

We are no doubt enchanted by the advances in technology and networking. Everything has become better, more comfortable, more efficient. Even if used with good or malevolent intentions. We all stand in awe of the massive databases. The employees "enjoying themselves" at the GCHQ could transmit the entire British Library 192 times a day to their colleagues at the NSA. Amazing.

The renowned British series "Are You Being Served-" ran from 1972 to 1985. Maybe we can bring the show back, although Captain Peacock is no longer with us, in a new version called "Are You Being Listened To-" Because in the end, that period -- 1984 -- is here and now in today's Britain.

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