US using spying as method to control citizens: Ex-NSA contractor
Press TV has conducted an interview with Steven Kelley, former NSA contractor from Los Angeles, to get his take on a recent US court ruling in favor of the NSA spy program.
The following is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: What agenda does the NSA follow by snooping on its own citizens?
Kelley: Obviously, we’ve talked about it several times, and this is certainly a method of control. But what I really want to point out is that this appellate court ruling really illustrates some major fundamental flaw with our legal system, where the merits of one case brought on by, I think, two individuals could be used to justify the continued breach of the freedoms of seven billion people, let alone 300 million Americans. So I think that’s probably one of the key issues here.
Press TV: How much has such evidence, such a data collection helped to what the NSA claims counter terrorism efforts?
Kelley: As I’ve said many times, this is again a control thing as far as trying to counter terrorism, I don’t believe that is true at all. I think that this is more of domestic control method and this is used for economic espionage and extortion across the border just to make sure that American policy is adopted.
Press TV: How much will such a law will make people have second thoughts when going online or having normal conversations?
Kelley: I would like to think the people have to accept and have to understand that this is pervasive. I do want to take the opportunity here I’m quick to say that I am actually running for president, …part of my platform will be to actually shut this down and remove not just the software that is corrupted but actually the hardware in the hard drives in the various different computers. So this is not a matter of shifting into the phone companies or changing a law... The physical tools that have been put into place in order for them to do this must be actively removed.
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