NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden doesn’t see why Fbi Director James Comey keeps his Instagram account private, when in fact, the agency “demands your data without warrants.” Snowden’s observation via Twitter follows a remark made by Comey at a cybersecurity conference in Boston College Wednesday, which seems to resonate to the recent controversy CIA is embroiled in.
WikiLeaks dumped a trove of CIA documents revealing the agency’s data-gathering tools that turn TVs and smartphones into surveillance devices, prompting a massive uproar. More so, the leaked CIA documents exposed a so-called special hacking unit within the agency’s Center for Cyber Intelligence, targeting Android and iOS devices.
“There is no such thing as absolute privacy in America,” Comey told the audience. “There is no place outside of judicial reach.” The FBI director also discussed the surge of encryption use ever since Snowden disclosed the agency’s invasion of privacy practices in 2013.
Comey’s Insta: private
The conference also saw the FBI director revealed that the agency lawfully acquired 2,800 devices from counterintelligence investigations. However, Comey said he values privacy, which led him into telling the audience about his Instagram account. “I don’t want anybody looking at my pictures,” said the director. He added that he has only nine followers, and only family members can view his personal trips. Snowden took to Twitter to respond to the FBI director’s revelation with quite a burn.
The FBI Director is bothered by the idea you might see his Insta, but his agency demands your data without warrants: https://t.co/riPF5sh5yI
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) March 8, 2017
Comey to finish FBI term amid controversies
The FBI director’s Boston appearance comes in the wake of President Trump’s accusations via Twitter, saying the Obama administration illegally wiretapped Trump Tower during the election.
Albeit previously accused for causing Hillary Clinton’s defeat during the 2016 presidential elections, the director said he will be completing his term, which is for 10 years.
Former president Barack Obama appointed Comey in 2013, leaving him with six more years in the post. To stress his stance on keeping the position, he told the audience: "You're stuck with me for about another six-and-a-half years.” The FBI director refused several questions from reporters situated within the vicinity, though he did address four queries from the audience that included high-profile members of health care, defense and law enforcement sectors.
Meanwhile, Snowden on Twitter continues his campaign on transparency journalism through the non-profit organization Freedom of the Press in which he is president. The foundation supports encryption tools for journalists to protect communications between them and their respective sources.
