Ukrainian Protests Persist Despite ‘Orwellian’ Surveillance, Violence

Donald Kaufman / Truthdig Jan 25, 2014 Clashes between the Ukrainian government and demonstrators continued Friday, despite President Viktor Yanukovych offering to give a little ground. The government's creative use of text messaging earlier in the week, not to mention violence, had something to do with the ongoing calls for regime change. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Lavabit Owner’s Farewell Warning: Don’t Trust Your Data to American Companies

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Aug 10, 2013 The owner and CEO of the secure email service reportedly used by Edward Snowden decided to shut down Thursday rather than help the U.S. spy on his customers. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

To Repair the Damage Done in NSA Blowup, Start With Clapper

Joe Conason / Truthdig Aug 10, 2013 With the conviction of Bradley Manning and asylum granted to Edward Snowden in Russia, it may be time to turn attention away from the controversy over their actions and toward the government -- specifically, the intelligence community. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Top 10 Things That Don’t Make Sense About NSA Surveillance, Drones and Al-Qaida

Juan Cole / Truthdig Aug 6, 2013 All the stories about the government’s quest for Total Information Awareness about the phone calls, email, Internet searches, etc. of 312 million ordinary Americans raise some questions in my mind. There are so many things about these stories that don’t make sense. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The Surveillance State Is as Strong as Ever

Bill Blum / Truthdig Aug 5, 2013 Don’t let the acquittal of Army Pfc Bradley Manning on aiding the enemy charges or the temporary asylum Russia granted to NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden fool you The harsh treatment of whistle-blowers will likely continue into the foreseeable future in pace with the needs and expansion of the surveillance state itself . Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Greenwald Blows Lid Off Massive NSA Web Surveillance Operation ‘XKeyscore’

Staff / Truthdig Jul 31, 2013 The Guardian columnist broke another major story about the NSA on Wednesday, this one detailing an Internet surveillance program that allows the powerful agency to spy on the emails, Web chats and search histories of millions of Americans without prior authorization. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

We Should Thank Edward Snowden

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Jul 30, 2013 Edward Snowden's renegade decision to reveal the jaw-dropping scope of the National Security Agency's electronic surveillance is being vindicated -- even as Snowden himself is being vilified. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

U.S. Promises Russia Snowden Will Have a Fair Trial

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Jul 26, 2013 In a bid to get his hands on Edward Snowden, Attorney General Eric Holder sent a letter to Russia promising not to torture or kill the NSA whistle-blower. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

National Security Agency Lobbies Congress to Keep Spying Powers

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Jul 24, 2013 The NSA's top snoop spent four hours in classified briefings Tuesday trying to persuade members of the House to vote down an amendment that would defund the agency's blanket surveillance of Americans. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

What We Still Don’t Know About the Agency’s Internet Surveillance

By Justin Elliott, ProPublica Jul 23, 2013 Among the snooping revelations of recent weeks, there have been tantalizing bits of evidence that the NSA is tapping fiber-optic cables that carry nearly all international phone and Internet data.But like other aspects of NSA surveillance, virtually everything about this kind of NSA surveillance is highly secret and we’re left with far from a full picture. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Surveillance Blowback

By Alfred W. McCoy, TomDispatch Jul 16, 2013 For well over a century, what might be called “surveillance blowback” from America’s wars has ensured the creation of an ever more massive and omnipresent internal security and surveillance apparatus. Its future (though not ours) looks bright indeed. Dig deeper ( 15 Min. Read )

Locking Out the Voices of Dissent

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Jul 15, 2013 With Occupy crushed, the corporate state aims to deny public space to any group that might trigger a new popular uprising. If this repression wins out, the resulting silence may be replaced with the thunder of violent resistance. With Occupy crushed, the corporate state aims to deny public space to any group that might trigger a new popular uprising. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )