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I'm not sure how I hadn't already thought of this, so I wonder has everyone else missed this or not. We've all been thinking that not enough people outside the

by corin_ 13y ago

I'm not sure how I hadn't already thought of this, so I wonder has everyone else missed this or not. We've all been thinking that not enough people outside the tech. world have been paying enough attention to these revelations - what better way to change this than through celebrity endorsements? Not necessarily of Snowden himself, but endorsements of the message that what is going on is wrong. Or has this been happening already and I just missed it?

narcissus 13y ago
Totally agree. And to be honest, I've been wondering if there's going to be a moment when certain celebrities and Hollywood 'types' start getting 'caught' in the data that has been found... in some sort of new age McCarthyism.
DoubleMalt 13y ago
Celebrities are on average not much different than other people. Most of them are sheep. Like most of us do not go to protest on the streets over such a thing, most celebrities will not be bothered to stick their head out in a possibly career crippling way. The ones that do regularly are quickly labelled as parts liberal Hollywood that can be disregarded. Another thing is that actors are part of the big movie-industrial complex that has a lot of interest in surveillance because they perceive this as their only hope against the free distribution of data. But I agree it would be worth the effort to actively pursue people like Matt Damon to give the cause widespread legitimacy. Easy it will be not, I'm afraid.
deveac 13y ago
This is the first instance I am aware of where a mundane celebrity not known for an interest/connection to tech has spoken out against the NSA on this topic. I'm sure there have been at least a few instances of lesser known personalities doing so. I sincerely welcome this; celebrities have large networks.
- Amadou 13y ago
  What counts as a "mundane celebrity?" Jimmy Carter has already said Snowden's actions were "beneficial" and that "America does not have a functioning democracy at this point in time." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/jimmy-carter-edward-snowden_n_3616930.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/jimmy-carter-edward...
  - untog 13y ago
    Sad reality: a lot more people care about what Matt Damon thinks than what Jimmy Carter thinks. It's still only middle ground, though. Once we can get One Direction involved...
  - deveac 13y ago
    Well, Jimmy Carter is a former president of the United States, ambassador, and politician. I was thinking generally of famous people that don't have a past or present connection to public policy. Either way though, it's a grey term, so there is plenty of room for interpretation. The point, I think, remains the same. As far as famous people of any sort talking to the public on this issue, my attitude is the more the better.
- roc 13y ago
  > "This is the first instance I am aware of where a mundane celebrity not known for an interest/connection to tech has spoken out against the NSA on this topic." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-cusack/snowden-principle_b_3441237.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-cusack/snowden-principle_... It doesn't seem to have much more impact than when anyone else does it.
  - deveac 13y ago
    >It doesn't seem to have much more impact than when anyone else does it. Not sure how one would measure that specifically, but any sort of public education on the issue by any influencer with a significant network is additive.
    - roc 13y ago
      Sure; it's my subjective impression. It just didn't seem any more additive than any other story on the subject. Maybe if celebrities bring it up in forums the larger public can't/won't ignore, their visibility would generate a larger reaction. (e.g. mentioning it at awards shows or live interviews or the like)

by corin_ 13y ago

narcissus 13y ago

Totally agree. And to be honest, I've been wondering if there's going to be a moment when certain celebrities and Hollywood 'types' start getting 'caught' in the data that has been found... in some sort of new age McCarthyism.

DoubleMalt 13y ago

Celebrities are on average not much different than other people. Most of them are sheep. Like most of us do not go to protest on the streets over such a thing, most celebrities will not be bothered to stick their head out in a possibly career crippling way. The ones that do regularly are quickly labelled as parts liberal Hollywood that can be disregarded. Another thing is that actors are part of the big movie-industrial complex that has a lot of interest in surveillance because they perceive this as their only hope against the free distribution of data. But I agree it would be worth the effort to actively pursue people like Matt Damon to give the cause widespread legitimacy. Easy it will be not, I'm afraid.

deveac 13y ago

This is the first instance I am aware of where a mundane celebrity not known for an interest/connection to tech has spoken out against the NSA on this topic. I'm sure there have been at least a few instances of lesser known personalities doing so. I sincerely welcome this; celebrities have large networks.

Amadou 13y ago
What counts as a "mundane celebrity?" Jimmy Carter has already said Snowden's actions were "beneficial" and that "America does not have a functioning democracy at this point in time." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/jimmy-carter-edward-snowden_n_3616930.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/jimmy-carter-edward...
- untog 13y ago
  Sad reality: a lot more people care about what Matt Damon thinks than what Jimmy Carter thinks. It's still only middle ground, though. Once we can get One Direction involved...
- deveac 13y ago
  Well, Jimmy Carter is a former president of the United States, ambassador, and politician. I was thinking generally of famous people that don't have a past or present connection to public policy. Either way though, it's a grey term, so there is plenty of room for interpretation. The point, I think, remains the same. As far as famous people of any sort talking to the public on this issue, my attitude is the more the better.
roc 13y ago
> "This is the first instance I am aware of where a mundane celebrity not known for an interest/connection to tech has spoken out against the NSA on this topic." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-cusack/snowden-principle_b_3441237.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-cusack/snowden-principle_... It doesn't seem to have much more impact than when anyone else does it.
- deveac 13y ago
  >It doesn't seem to have much more impact than when anyone else does it. Not sure how one would measure that specifically, but any sort of public education on the issue by any influencer with a significant network is additive.
  - roc 13y ago
    Sure; it's my subjective impression. It just didn't seem any more additive than any other story on the subject. Maybe if celebrities bring it up in forums the larger public can't/won't ignore, their visibility would generate a larger reaction. (e.g. mentioning it at awards shows or live interviews or the like)