Comprehensive Report Takes Stock of Global Developments After One Year of Snowden Revelations

A comprehensive report was issued today which examines the technical and policy response to foreign intelligence problems highlighted by the unique window into the operation of such agencies that has been provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden over the past year. The report, which focuses mostly on developments at the national level within 18 countries (there is also one EU-wide section and one section that examines the private sector), points to a strong shift in perception and growing acknowledgement and concern over foreign intelligence activities. However, in spite of this concern, it points to minimal tangible changes to date across surveyed countries (aside from the United States, where some nascent changes have already taken root).

This is perhaps not surprising -- while the Snowden revelations have certainly shined a light on foreign intelligence activities around the world, the primary focus of these documents has been the activities of the US-based NSA. In addition, while reporting on the leaks began one year ago, the staged release of these revelations has meant that a complete picture has only emerged in the past few months. It is, then, perhaps unsurprising that most changes to date have occurred in the United States or at the international level. The report was generated by privacy scholar Simon Davies. CIPPIC, in conjunction with Christopher Parsons (Citizen Lab) and Micheal Vonn (BCCLA), provided the Canada chapter.

Resources

• Simon Davies, Ed., "A Crisis of Accountability: A Global Analysis of the Impact of the Snowden Revelations", June 2014
• Christopher Parsons, "A Crisis of Accountability: The Canadian Situation", June 10, 2014
• Micheal Vonn, "One Year Later: Global Analysis of the Snowden Revelations", June 20, 2014