Edward Snowden, perhaps the most publicised whistleblower of our time, has just released a techno song.
This is not a drill.
The NSA whistleblower, currently in a self-imposed exile in Russia, has teamed up with electronic music artist Jean-Michel Jarre to create the track.
It’s called Exit, and it’s a song from Jarre’s upcoming album, titled Electronica Volume II: The Heart of Noise.
And you can listen to Snowden’s crazy jam on Spotify.
The pair met up after Jarre contacted The Guardian asking if he could be put in contact with Snowden.
The song features commentary from Snowden, discussing the importance of privacy online.
In the track, Snowden says:
“Technology can actually increase privacy. The question is: why are our private details that are transmitted online, why are private details that are stored on our personal devices, any different than the details and private records of our lives that are stored in our private journals?”
“I think saying that you don’t care about privacy because you have nothing to hide, is no different than saying you don’t care about freedom of speech because you have nothing to say. It’s a deeply anti-social principle, because rights are not just individual, they’re collective,” he continues.
Snowden adds: “What may not have value to you today, may have value to an entire population, an entire people, or our entire way of life tomorrow. And if you don’t stand up for it, then who will?”
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Edward Snowden, aged 32, entered the public eye in 2013 when he leaked classified information about the USA’s National Security Agency.
The leaks revealed a number of secretive global surveillance schemes run by the NSA, including programs operated in conjunction with Britain’s GCHQ.
In the wake of the leaks, Snowden fled from Hong Kong to Russia, in hopes of evading recourse from the US government. He has been charged with violating the Espionage Act of 1917, but remains at an undisclosed location in Russia to this day.
What did you think of Exit? Do you think more whistleblowers should get into the EDM scene? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.