America Owes the World an Explanation

The world was shocked when former National Security Agency and CIA employee Edward Snowden blew the lid off America’s global internet surveillance. President Obama, arriving in Northern Ireland today to attend the G-8 summit, will be explaining himself to European heads of state. Indeed, America is obliged not only to explain monitoring global internet systems to EU countries, but also to Hong Kong and mainland China, along with all the other countries and localities whose networks and computers were encroached on by the U.S. The country has to stop violating human rights of foreign citizens abroad and interfering in the affairs of other countries.

Revelations about PRISM triggered intense reactions from the public in Europe, with the German leader strongly indignant. Der Spiegel condemns such a move on America’s part as having “overstepped the boundaries of security and privacy.” Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, points out in her letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that “programs such as PRISM and laws which accordingly grant authority for such programs may gravely afflict the basic rights of EU citizens.”* Public opinion across many countries also reflects serious doubt and resentment toward U.S. monitoring of global internet networks. In a bid to soothe tempers worldwide, Obama will be speaking publicly about PRISM in Berlin.

How can America explain to the world that, despite long fashioning itself as “the global human rights police,” the country nonetheless flagrantly violates human rights with its worldwide internet surveillance? PRISM has shown the world that not only is America unqualified to be “the global human rights police,” but the country also threatens and violates human rights plus privacy.

With a 50,000-strong internet army, America is the true hacker empire; the country can neutralize its adversaries through network control and not make a stir. It takes cyberwarfare to the color revolutions, as shown in Tunisia’s revolution and the conflict in Libya. Richard Clarke, a former White House adviser for counterterrorism and cybersecurity, states that cyberwars generate catastrophic damage within 15 minutes. America has long made itself out as the global leader of peace, but where does it want to steer humanity if it constantly beats the war drums to advance cyberwarfare?

America often denounces foreign hackers for attacking its networks and computers, but how can it explain the double standard in its behavior for carrying out cyberattacks itself? As TV channel Russia Today points out, the U.S. has long censured other countries, especially China, regarding cyberattacks against America. Yet content divulged to the media by U.S. intelligence officer Edward Snowden gave evidence and understanding to the world of American hypocrisy and duplicity on this issue. Germany’s Die Welt also challenges the notion of America claiming to be a victim of hacking. Recently for several months Washington had censured Beijing’s theft of American military, technological and economic secrets and had triggered intense bickering. However, events have now made a 180-degree turn with Snowden’s revelations.

America should truthfully explain itself to the international community over its global internet surveillance rather than fabricate all sorts of doublespeak to absolve itself of any responsibility. It also ought to cease encroaching on global networks and computers, abandon its double standard with cyberattacks and bring an end to violating human rights abroad and endangering world peace.

*Editor’s Note: While accurately translated, this quote could not be verified.