Society Archives

Edward Snowden, XKEYSCORE, and Government Surveillance

What is XKEYSCORE and how is it used? How did Edward Snowden verify that the government was conducting mass surveillance? How did Snowden, XKEYSCORE, NSA, and privacy rights all come together to lead to whistleblowing? Used at one point by Edward Snowden, XKEYSCORE is a mass surveillance technology. The NSA can use this technology to see what any person has done on the internet. Read about Snowden, XKEYSCORE use at the NSA, and how this pushed Snowden towards blowing the whistle.

Edward Snowden: Hong Kong Can’t Offer Protection

How did Edward Snowden end up in Hong Kong? What was the reason for him to go there to leak his story to journalists? For Edward Snowden, Hong Kong was meant to be where he took refuge, but what happened? Hong Kong is the place that Edward Snowden went to when he was ready to blow the whistle on government surveillance. For Edward Snowden, Hong Kong wasn’t an option to stay because of US pressure. Read more about Edward Snowden in Hong Kong.

Edward Snowden: Privacy Doesn’t Exist in Digital Age

What does Edward Snowden think of privacy? Is it something you can protect with the right measures? Does Snowden think that privacy is unattainable and you should just accept that you’re being spied on? For Edward Snowden, privacy was the motivation for blowing the whistle. Snowden saw mass surveillance to be an unconstitutional violation of privacy. Learn more about Snowden, privacy protections he would recommend, and the risks you’re facing in the digital age.

Did Edward Snowden Break the Law? Technically, Yes

Did Edward Snowden break the law when he used intelligence technology for unofficial purposes? Did Edward Snowden break the law when he took files out of the NSA? Did Edward Snowden break the law when he leaked documents to journalists? Edward Snowden broke US laws and was charged with a political crime. However, because he went to a non-extraditing country and got asylum, he is not in jail. Read more about Edward Snowden’s actions and their legal implications.

The CIA at Langley: Turmoil Amongst Spies

What does the CIA do? What is the CIA Langley headquarters like? How have agents felt about CIA operations and the agency’s reputation over the years? The CIA is one of the key US intelligence agencies. After 9/11, CIA operations and control were reduced in response to its intelligence failure. Read about the CIA and its current responsibilities, reputation, and issues.

Edward Snowden: Online Life & Passion for Technology

Was there an Edward Snowden online persona when he was a kid? How much time did Ed spend on the internet? Did these online experiences impact Ed’s clearance? For Edward Snowden, online worlds were a freeing place to be. Learn about Snowden, online chats, and gaming, and how it all plays out in a government background check.

Edward Snowden: Ecuador Said No to Asylum Request

What was Snowdens plan for after he leaked the secret NSA documents? If What county made the most sense for asylum seekers? For Edward Snowden, Ecuador was the best choice. Ecuador is a nation that does not have the best diplomatic relationship with the US. The country has previously sheltered Julian Assange instead of allowing him to be extradited. Learn more about Edward Snowden, Ecuador as a possible destination, and what went wrong.

Courtney Speed: Fighting to Improve Turner Station

Who is Courtney Speed? What did she do for the Turner Station community? How did she advocate for Henrietta Lacks? Courtney Speed is a businesswoman from Turner Station. She sought recognition of Henrietta Lacks to help raise the profile of her community. Learn about Courtney Speed, Turner Station, and recognizing Henrietta Lacks.

Lacks Town: Home of Henrietta Lacks and Many Family Members

What is Lacks Town? How many relatives of Henrietta Lacks lived there? Are Lacks Town and the town of Clover, Virginia still around? Lacks Town is the ancestral farm of the Lacks family. It has a single road and is across a two-lane road from Clover, Virginia. Learn about Lacks Town and the changes to Clover since Henrietta Lacks was alive.

Rebel Against Authority–No, This Doesn’t Mean Anarchy

Have you ever felt compelled to do something by someone in charge? Did someone who looked official because of a uniform seem like they had to be obeyed? You can rebel against authority of a fake nature. The expertise test is a critical thinking exercise that forces you to question whether or not someone is credible. If they are and if they are truthful, they are a legitimate source of authority. Otherwise, you should be resisting illegitimate authority that is trying to manipulate you. Rebel against authority, or at least the faux kind of authority.