As Sanchez notes, it's not just whether or not any of us are direct targets, but the overall chilling effects of how the system is used.
And, I should note, that while Wittes is confident that he's safe -- there are a growing number of folks who have good reason to believe that they are not immune from such surveillance.
The recent revelation that Tor users are labeled as extremists who get extra-special scrutiny seems like a major concern.
In the process of doing journalism, I've communicated with folks associated with some of those and other similar organizations.
In the past, I probably would have similarly noted that I doubted the NSA cared at all about what I was doing, but as each of these stories comes out, I am increasingly less sure.
And, more importantly, even if the NSA is not at all concerned with what I happen to be doing, just the fact that I now have to think about what it means if they might be certainly creates a chilling effect, and makes me think twice over certain people I contact, and what I say to them.
It's easy to claim that you're not worried when you're the one out there supporting those in power. It becomes a lot trickier when you're either criticizing those in power, or communicating with those who challenge the power structure.
Suddenly, it's not so easy to sit on the sidelines and say "Meh, no one's going to care about me..."
And that should be a major concern.
The way we keep a strong democracy is by having people who are able and willing to challenge the status quo and those in power.
And yes, the US is much more forgiving than many, many other countries to such people, but there are clear biases and clear cases where they are not at all accepting of such things.
And the more of a chilling effect the government creates around those things, the more dangerous it becomes to stand up for what you believe in.
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