The biggest crime perpetrated after Edward Snowden's leaked revelations of government-led mass surveillance of all of its citizens electronic communications was the apparent refusal by large sections of the press to either decry these methods or to even report it at all. The silence spoke louder still of just how closely controlled a lot of aspects of our lives are, the media in particular. The BBC was slapped with a D-notice (in effect, cease and desist) by the British government. It was only Glenn Greenwald and The Guardian who reported, and continue to report such cataclysmic news. Once an unassuming and reserved computer bod, Snowden gave up his life in the USA, a good salary and a stable relationship to inform the public just how out of control the powers that be are becoming. Whether he wanted to or not, Snowden has become the figurehead of dark omens for our future; the Winston Smith of our lifetime. Now exiled in Moscow, living alone and within his means, the future for him looks, if not bleak, without any real promise. Snowden has stated repeatedly that he does not want to become the leader of some kind of revolution, a John Connor-style figure leading droves of humanity over the hills and into the offices of government on an anti-technological ransacking mission. His intention was to merely inform and educate people, to make them sit up and take notice that our freedoms as individuals and as a species are rapidly diminishing without any recourse or say; a series of private courts are setting laws and passing them without public consultation. Snowden's detractors are typically blind to the vastly disturbing realities of the situation. Your Glenn Becks and Bill O'Reillys standing firm in the face of mounting evidence and declaring that it's for the good of the nation, will stop "terrorism" and that anybody who doesn't support such measures is being unconstitutional. The irony being that those who believe in the constitution and law the most are usually the happiest to see such freedoms and fair play taken away from them. The question now is not "Why?" but "What next?" Snowden's job is done, and he is to face his fate alone. It is up to the rest of us to decide how we can look to harass those in charge and demand changes. And if you think this a load of hot air with no consequence, that if there's nothing to hide there's nothing to fear, well, hey might just knock on your door one day. Who do you think deserved to win the Man Of The Year award? Share your own picks below in the comments thread.
Currently undertaking NCTJ (journalism qualification), do a lot of music writing and very interested in literature, film, current affairs and anything else in between. Find me on Twitter - @jjviney
