The world of computer science is facing what Edward Snowden calls its 鈥渁tomic moment鈥�: a reckoning that will determine whether its power can be exploited to benefit humanity or if we will be locked into a world of near-total surveillance.
About 600 people packed the McInnes Room at pilipili漫画鈥檚 Student Union Building on May 30 to hear Snowden speak live via video link from an undisclosed location in Moscow. Snowden鈥檚 keynote, taking place during the first Dal Alumni Days, was part of the Open Dialogue series, which launched in 2018. The series brings people together for thought-provoking conversations on timely and relevant topics.
鈥淲hen you create a new capability, there are really two questions you face: can you do it 鈥� that鈥檚 the one that seduces everyone 鈥� and should you do it. And that鈥檚 a very different question,鈥� Snowden said.
He described 鈥渁n unholy connection of technology and an unusual interpretation of contract law鈥� 鈥� the idea that we routinely 鈥渁gree鈥� to hundreds of pages of terms and conditions 鈥� as giving rise to a world in which governments spy on their citizens and companies find it more profitable to 鈥渁buse鈥� their audiences than to treat them 鈥渨ith respect and dignity.鈥�
Spy games
A former CIA employee and National Security Agency contractor, Snowden came to worldwide attention in 2013, after he fled to Hong Kong and leaked a huge number of secret documents revealing the extent of global surveillance. Fearing capture, he applied to several countries for asylum and hid among the refugee community in Hong Kong. 聽
The McInnes Room crowd watching Snowden's lecture.
His talk was a benefit for the 鈥淪nowden refugees鈥� who sheltered him. According to the Montreal-based non-profit For the Refugees, Hong Kong cut off support payments to the people who protected Snowden and sped up proceedings to deport them to Sri Lanka and the Philippines 鈥� where their lives could be in danger. Canada recently accepted two of the refugees.
Over the course of nearly two hours, Snowden 鈥� an engaging and emphatic speaker 鈥� described the rise of the surveillance state, his own decision to break the law to reveal the extent of surveillance, and the new 鈥渄igital arms race鈥� with governments and companies racing to find more effective means to spy on us, and predict and shape our behaviour.
鈥淓verybody in the room probably thinks Facebook is spying on them, and you are absolutely right. So is Amazon, so is Google, so is the phone in your pocket, so are the ad trackers in every app you install,鈥� he said.
Speaking directly to computer science students in the room, Snowden said, 鈥淵our code is not secure today. You know that, and I know that鈥� It is the ecosystem that is the problem鈥� 鈥� an ecosystem he described as 鈥減oisoned, polluted and toxic.鈥�
Making change happen
Snowden was introduced by Frank Harvey, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Snowden鈥檚 Canadian lawyer, Robert Tibbo. Both struck a somber note, citing the rise of authoritarianism, attacks on whistleblowers and increasing hostilities to refugees and asylum-seekers.
Frank Harvey, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, on stage during Snowden's lecture.
But Snowden鈥檚 address was more optimistic, saying that since we are now aware of the problem of surveillance, we can take steps to solve it. He noted positive developments, such as the rise of encryption (鈥渨e are winning鈥�) and an increasing discomfort with the surveillance economy. And he pointed once again to the atomic age as an example.
鈥淭hink about the nuclear era and all the harms that visited upon the world. And think about what nuclear energy does for us today鈥� We have, in many ways, tamed these forces.鈥�
Watch the full lecture
of Edward Snowden's Dal lecture: