TIME
THE SNOWDEN LEGACY
BEHIND THE MASS SURVEILLANCE FROM NSA BY STEVEN CHOU
(Bulldog Digital Media)
TIME
SPECIAL EVENTS
National Security or Personal Privacy
The Supreme Court Finds for Gay Marriage
West Fertilizer Company explosion
SPECIAL EVENTS
Paul Walker’s death
POLITICS
POLITICS
Former CIA employee and whistleblower Edward Snowden talked to Kara Swisher in an upcoming edition of the Recode Decode podcast. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images (Sullivan)
Obama's Second Presidency
Explosions At Boston Marathon Two bombs exploded at the finish line during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013,
The Cleveland kidnapping Three women were discovered kidnapped at a bus driver’s house
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Lianhao Qu - Unsplash
National Security or Personal Privacy Mass surveillance program exposed by Edward Snowden
for American society. He acts to protect the constitution of the United States. Due to the 911 attacks and the rise The disclosure also shows his of ISIS, national security became the distress over actions that are against the government’s main interest, with public interest. As a system technologies to counter-terrorism. administrator, he receives these These innovations were used not only disturbing information in the on the battlefield, but also in the intelligence system on a frequent basis. United States. The American He sees everything. His sense of government undergoes invasive antiresponsibility for the public interest terrorism measures. Post-9/11 and concern for future generations electronic surveillance began under the motivates him to make these Patriot Act. Snowden was working in disclosures, as he said in the interview: the NSA as a system engineer, having “if you realized that is the world that the authority to view almost every you help to create… you realize that you classified document. These documents might be willing to accept any risk.” shocked him. Before Snowden’s (Snowden). disclosures. These types of electronic Snowden sacrificed his job and life in surveillance only exist in movies. Most America. He was forced to leave his people, including Snowden, don't country. With the CIA’s influence in acknowledge its existence, while foreign countries, he lives in fear. He others think it is only a possibility. manually removes the microphones and Working as a system engineer allows cameras inside his phone to avoid Snowden to receive these documents, spying. He can not travel since the changing his view on the role of the United States can arrest him in other government. A normal employee only countries. Despite the loss of freedom receives one or few of the documents, and a normal life, he does not regret his having little information. On the other choice to make the disclosures. hand, Snowden was shocked by these THE VOICES documents, believing that the government is abusing the surveillance Some Americans believed that the system, an idea that most people public should not be concerned. Others consider unreal. argued that surveillance goes beyond the Constitution of the United States. FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST This triggers a series of protests in the Snowden risked his own life and United States, resembling parts of freedom for the greater good of public opinion. As Snowden hopes, American society. The motivation American society starts debating behind his whistleblowing is a mix of whether surveillance is constitutional. American values and public service. The “Stop Watching Us” movement After looking through the classified calls for reformation of NSA documents, Snowden recognized how surveillance, while other people the surveillance was against the criticize Snowden, calling him a constitution of the United States. He traitor. These criticisms were often gave this information to the public, based on the importance of national since he believes the public needs to security. Terrorism since the 911 decide how to react to the NSA’s attacks raises awareness of national surveillance project, not by an average security, such as the Boston Marathon employee. In his interview, Snowden Bombings, serving as one of the reveals his concern over the impact of reasons behind criticism over the the NSA surveillance project on the disclosures. His expertise and younger generation. As a computer credibility in internet security also intelligence expert, he recognizes the raise awareness of the advancement of exponential development of computer surveillance. As he suggested in various technologies, worrying about the lives interviews, electrical surveillance will of future generations. He acts worsen with the
RISE OF SURVEILLANCE
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(Daniel) development of technologies, resulting in various internet privacy issues. While the public debates, the government had its own response. After the disclosure, President Obama promised evaluation and reformation. Public oversight and security experts review two controversial programs: the bulk telephone record collection and the program that spies on non-U.S citizens. Afterward, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report on reformation, including limiting sight collection and use, enhancing transparency, and protecting whistleblowers. Although the NSA can still hold personal information for five years, this is a significant improvement from the past. The reformation also included modification of the national security letters, which allowed the government to access communications and other private information through major companies. This letter will not expire, granting the government to obtain the private information of US citizens secretly from major companies such as Google. After the reveal of the mass surveillance program, the letter now expires after three years.
ENCRYPTION AND PRIVACY
Surveillance from the United States impacts every individual. With the creation of the internet, surveillance not only exists through cameras. The governments also monitor the internet, phone calls, and most radio transmissions. With the internet, the influence of the NSA’s surveillance extended outwards to other nations. Before 2013, most of the internet traffic was not encrypted, meaning it could be read directly. This exposes browsing history, personal information, and other private data of any internet user. The massive and invasive data gathering from the NSA is just the tip of the iceberg. Without Edward Snowden’s whistleblowing, society would never know this type of mass surveillance exists. Before 2013, this type of surveillance only appeared in movies as a conspiracy. After 2013, large companies and groups were working on encryption and personal privacy protection. Especially nowadays, where most aspects of life are related to technology, internet privacy becomes essential to every individual. The classified files of the NSA mass surveillance projects changed people’s perspective on internet privacy, serving as an important role in internet development.
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BOMBS ROCK BO During the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded at the finish line, killing 3 people and injuring 260.
(Tang)
STON MARATHON
Smoke from the first explosion clearing as a second detonation can be seen (background) in the bomb attacks on the Boston Marathon, April 15, 2013. (L. Ryan)
During the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded at the finish line, killing 3 people and injuring 260. This is a terrorist attack conducted by two people, the Tsarnaev brothers. Tsarnaev was a student at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The investigation team collected various videos and images. One photograph shows one of the brothers placing a package at the location of the second explosion. The bombs were identified as pressure cookers filled with explosive substances and ball bearings. The brothers obtained the plans for the bombs from Inspire, published by al-Qaeda intended for aspiring jihadist in foreign countries. However, there is no solid link between the two brothers and terrorist groups. The marathon is a tradition held in Massachusetts on a public holiday. Hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered on the route from Hopkinton to Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. The suspect placed the bomb down without causing any suspicion. Five hours into the race, the suspects detonated the first bomb around the finish line.
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The bomb exploded behind the spectators, causing the victim to receive fatal lower body injuries. Many spectators suffered injuries to the back of their legs. The second bomb exploded 12 seconds later, 600 feet away from the finish line. Both bombs are aiming for the crowd of spectators. Although there is no direct association between Boston Marathon Bombings and terrorist groups, it is the result of extreme and violent ideology. Al-Qaeda is not only an extremist group; it is a network of extreme Sunni Islam ideology. Since the War on Terrorism, the power of Al-Quaeda has been restricted in the Middle East. However, terrorist attacks motivated by extreme Sunni Islam ideology can still be found in various countries, including Boston Marathon Bombings. Inspires, magazines published by al-Qaeda, motivated the Tsarnaev brothers to commit a terrorist attack. Moreover, the magazines also provide instructions to create a homemade bomb. This incident shows the difficulty in eliminating terrorism in the United States, since extreme ideologies can be spread easily.
(Studio Ghibli)
The Cleveland kidnapping On May 6, 2013, three women were discovered kidnapped at a bus driver’s house. The kidnapper, named Ariel Castro, captured the three women a decade before 2013. On the day of the event, Ariel Castro left the house, forgetting to lock the inner door. Berry, one of the three women, decided to call for help. She screamed desperately until Charles Ramsey, a neighbor, heard the cries. During the 10 years of kidnapping, the three women were chained, tortured, and sexually assaulted. Ariel Castro was arrested, charged with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape. Castro was sentenced to life in prison. One month after the sentence, he was found hanging with a bedsheet. He committed suicide. This kidnapping incident shows the ease of child abduction in the United States, exposing the limits of police actions in these types of cases. Before the discovery of the Cleveland
(The New York Times)
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kidnapping, some of the women were considered a “run away”. No investigation was taken by the police. The mix of private and public responsibility in kidnapping cases complicates the investigation process. With little evidence, police forces have difficulties in recognizing kidnapping from missing cases, causing a slow response to these cases. Sexual violation and abduction create fear within American society. Some parents experienced intense fear of child abductions and sexual crimes. Parents are now more worried about their children’s safety. This kidnapping incident generates widespread attention to abduction in the US. It also painfully affected the victims and their families, showing the importance of parents’ protection and policing agencies.
Jose P. Ortiz - Unsplash
SPECIAL EVENTS
WEST FERTILIZER COMPANY EXPLOSION On April 17, 2013, a fire and explosion occurred at the fertilizer owned by the West Fertilizer Company (WFC) in Texas. Before the explosion, there were small signs of fire. The local volunteer fire departments quickly responded. 20 minutes afterwards, the stockpile of between 40 and 60 tons of fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate exploded. This explosion is one of the most destructive incidents ever investigated by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). The explosion resulted in 12 fatally injured emergency responders and more than 260 injured victims. The WFC fertilizer facility was destroyed, damaging more than 150 offsite buildings. With the destruction of the facility, WFC filed for bankruptcy. The investigation from CSB concluded that the lack of an automatic sprinkler
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system contributed to the detonation. Moreover, a few years before the incident, one WFC insurer did not address safety concerns identified in loss control surveys, indicating the failure of the insurer. It suggested the lack of safety
inspections of the facility. CSM estimated the total losses from the explosion to be around $230 million. Also, the construction of the bins and other building materials lacks the ability to protect the storage area.
SPECIAL EVENTS Fexas fertilizer plant explodes - Forensic mappers work the crater at the site of a fire and explosion in West, Texas, on April 24, 2013. The West Fertilizer Co. plant in the small Texas town exploded days earlier on April 17, killing 15 people. (CNN)
A mushroom cloud of smoke rising from an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West could be seen from the Czech Stop (Bartee).
Remains of the fertilizer plant burn in the early morning after the explosion (CNN). (AIChE Academy)
Search and rescue workers comb through what remains of a 50-unit apartment building the day after an explosion at the West Fertilizer Company destroyed the building April 18, 2013 in West, Texas. (Somodevilla)
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SPECIAL EVENTS
Paul Walker
Died after Crashing at over 100mph On November 30, 2013, Paul Walker, the famous actor from the Fast and Furious film, died in Los Angeles. Paul and his friend, Roger Rodas, were traveling in a Porsche at high speed. Their car then struck a concrete lamp post, catching fire. The vehicle then spined 180 degrees and crashed into a tree. Both of them were killed. Roger died from fire caused by racing fuel.
Paul died from trauma and burns, having a lot of broken bones. There were no indications of drug use or alcohol. The accident happened during the production of Fast and Furious 7, which was only part way done. Thus, the movie was heavily affected. The studio used older footage from earlier Fast and Furious films, repurposing them into the movie. Also, Paul’s brothers performed some of the scenes.
The scene of the crash that killed Paul Walker (Watson).
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POLITICS
Defense of Marriage Act is Unconstitutional
One of the attorneys in the California Proposition 8 case, David Boies (center), speaks outside the Supreme Court as he's surrounded by plaintiffs in the case, couples Paul Katami (from left) and Jeff Zarrillo, and Sandy Stier and Kris Perry (Wilson). The Defense of Marriage Act prevented married same-sex couples from receiving the benefits available to other married couples. This is viewed as discrimination against lesbians and gays. This is unconstitutional, triggering a strike down of the Defense of Marriage Act. On December 7, 2012, Edie Windsor challenged the Defense of Marriage Act in the supreme court.
On March 27 in the federal court, arguments took place between the ACLU and NYCLU's Windsor and the United States. Later on June 26, 2013, the "Defense of Marriage Act" was considered unconstitutional and discriminatory, granting married lesbians and gays the same federal benefits and protections.
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POLITICS
Obama Officially Begins His Second Term
(Rappeport) On January 20, 2013, President Obama officially began his second term as president of the United States. With his family members, President Obama recited the oath of office, a traditional public commitment. The election resulted in 332 to 206 electoral votes for Obama. As the first African American president, the election of Obama was a key moment in history.
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During his presidency, Obama faced many challenges, including wars in Iraq and an economic collapse. Three signature bills were signed by Obama during his first term, including an omnibus bill, legislation on health care, and legislation on the financial institutions reformation. In 2009, Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize, demonstrating his contribution to American society.
(Souza)