In my estimation, there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden's release of NSA material – and that definitely includes the Pentagon Papers 40 years ago. Snowden's whistleblowing gives us the possibility to roll back a key part of what has amounted to an "executive coup" against the US constitution.

Since 9/11, there has been, at first secretly but increasingly openly, a revocation of the bill of rights for which this country fought over 200 years ago. In particular, the fourth and fifth amendments of the US constitution, which safeguard citizens from unwarranted intrusion by the government into their private lives, have been virtually suspended....

Obviously, the United States is not now a police state. But given the extent of this invasion of people's privacy, we do have the full electronic and legislative infrastructure of such a state.... Snowden reveals that the so-called intelligence community has become the United Stasi of America.

Daniel Ellsberg

 

Media rape

3rd March 2009

Passing the Royal Marsden Hospital, there they were: sinister, cold, with long lenses, all men. Possibly the 27 year old woman inside, in her last days of life, was feeding off them as much as they were feeding off her. Possibly there was a contract there. But there are many where there is no contract, at least not one that extends beyond the concert hall, the recording studio, the photo shoot, the first night. We, as a society, tolerate a situation where those that step into the limelight are not allowed to say no. Having become illuminated, it is not sufficient that they give pleasure, that they perform, entertain. They have to be invaded, probed, picked at. When I speak about this, invariably the response comes (and from well educated, civilised people too):"they crave the attention" or "they use the media, the media is entitled to use them". So where's the contract? For me, I buy a ticket, I watch for two or three hours; that's the contract. An actress appears at a razamataz first night, she performs, photographers photograph; that's the contract - both sides happy. I don't care how much someone uses the media; while they're doing so, there's equilibrium, fairness. But they need to able to say no, in the same way that a woman needs to be able to say no. She may be provocatively dressed to draw attention, but she must have the right to say no. It is no defence to say she was asking for it. Rape is against the law (although barely given the dismal crime statistics). An actress, or anyone, must be able to say you may not photograph me on holiday; you may not photograph my children; or my husband; or when I'm shopping. When I'm on show, you may photograph; otherwise you may not. Why is this concept so difficult to understand?