Edward Snowden on Facebook: "And They Call Me A Criminal"

image
Created: 10 Apr, 2018
Updated: 17 Oct, 2022
2 min read

The testimony of Mark Zuckerberg on privacy protections and data collection on Facebook in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal will likely be the most watched and closely analyzed hearing of the year. People on all sides of the political spectrum have weighed in over social media in droves.

There are many aspects of the hearing that are getting the most attention: Many senators' lack of knowledge of Facebook and perplexing questions, Mark Zuckerberg's at times contradictory statements, the joke that the whole thing turned into online, and more.

However, there is one response that will likely get overlooked by most media outlets.

https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/983801604519407616

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) asked Zuckerberg about whether or not Facebook tracks user activity after they log off Facebook.

"There have been reports that Facebook can tracks a user's internet browsing activity even after that user has logged off of the Facebook platform," said Senator Wicker. "Can you confirm whether or not this is true?"

Zuckerberg didn't really seem like he wanted to talk about this.

https://twitter.com/MashableNews/status/983797210759348224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2F2018%2F04%2F10%2Fmark-zuckerberg-testimony-tracking-users%2F&tfw_creator=mashable&tfw_site=mashable

Zuckerberg said he would have his team follow up with the senator, but Wicker pressed the issue.

IVP Donate

"You don't know?" Wicker asked.

"I know that people use cookies on the internet, and that you can probably correlate activity between, um, between sessions," responded Zuckerberg. "We do that for a number of reasons, including security and including measuring ads to make sure that the ad experiences are the most effective."

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden's response to commentary that Zuckerberg dodged this question was, "And they call me a criminal."

That wasn't the only tweet, either:

Before you read or watch Facebook's CEO testifying today, you need to read this. He's not sorry: every activity we've seen from this company is part of the same unbroken strategy of deception. https://t.co/DF426R7gNa

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 10, 2018

In case you were wondering why Congress today is treating Facebook's CEO like an old friend rather than grilling him (they didn't even require him to be sworn in): https://t.co/ZLOVIVUo18

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 10, 2018

But Snowden wasn't just critical of Zuckerberg and Facebook. He also RTed commentary that points out the apparent hypocrisy of some senators who all of a sudden are concerned about consumer privacy and data protection:

https://twitter.com/EmmaVigeland/status/983784314918891522

OLAS Media

Called a heroic whistle-blower by some and a criminal traitor by others, Edward Snowden has resided in Russia since 2013 after he leaked information on mass surveillance and data collection programs conducted by the US intelligence community -- specifically the NSA.

The Justice Department charged Snowden with violating the Espionage Act in June 2013 for these leaks.

Latest articles

I voted stickers
In Oakland, Barbara Lee's RCV Strategy Seen as Critical to Mayoral Victory
In a dramatic shift following the April 15 special mayoral election in Oakland, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee has been declared the winner, pulling into a commanding lead over former Councilmember Loren Taylor, as vote counting continues....
18 Apr, 2025
-
2 min read
Bernie Sanders
Sanders and AOC Wrap 'Fighting Oligarchy' Tour and Bernie Takes the Mic at Coachella
US Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrapped up their Fighting Oligarchy Tour on April 16, after a five-day, seven-stop sweep through the West that drew nearly 150,000 people—capping it off with an unexpected appearance by Sanders at the Coachella music festival....
18 Apr, 2025
-
3 min read
AOC
Is Bernie Passing the Torch to AOC for the 2028 Presidential Election?
US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) continues to make waves in US politics. She is co-headlining rallies across the country with US Sen. Bernie Sanders as part of the "Fighting Oligarchy Tour," which has drawn large crowds even in GOP strongholds....
17 Apr, 2025
-
4 min read