The snowden affair : the self-fulfilling prophecy of an idealist

Abstract EN

This paper is a historical and semantic approach of the Snowden Affair.

The post 9/11 context led the USA to reorganize its intelligence agencies (CIA and NSA) and test their new doctrine: massive electronic surveillance.

The Patriot Act (2001) was the instrument of this change and urged the rise of a cyber counter-culture that purposed the organization of a digital resistance.

Anonymous, WikiLeaks, and Snowden constituted the most notorious acts of rebellion.

Their disparate actions have unveiled the acts of the various American Administrations and the extent of surveillance.

Edward Snowden has leaked a considerable number of top secret files and became, thus, the most charismatic figure of the libertarians.

Snowden has always claimed that his leaks were restricted to excessive uses of surveillance, and that his will was not to endanger the stability of the American Nation.

His autobiography: “Permanent Record” constitutes a statement about idealism and proved to be a “Self-Fulfilling Prophecy”, as it has enacted a change in mentalities vis-à-vis the excesses of digital surveillance.