Edward Snowden and spread of encryption blamed after Paris terror attacks

The Daily Dot ^ | November 14, 2015 | By Patrick Howell O'Neill

[Swordmaker]

As Paris reels from terror attacks that claimed at least 128 lives, fierce blame for the attack is being directed toward American whistleblower Edward Snowden and the spread of strong encryption catalyzed by his actions. 

The latest deadly terror attack is bringing the "crypto wars" further toward the spotlight. The crypto wars refers to a decades-long political battle over the legality and popularity of encryption around the world.

In the years since Snowden revealed to the world the vast surveillance and spying done by Western governments, strong encryption has become an increasingly popular way for people to shield their Internet activity from prying eyes. Encryption is used by everyone from ecommerce websites to human rights activists to American soldiers to Islamist terrorists.

It's the latter group's adoption of strong encryption in particular that has attracted so much fiery rhetoric.

Fox News hosts Greg Gutfeld and Dana Perino, George W. Bush's former press secretary, took to Twitter to directly blame and even curse at Snowden. 

Also, F Snowden. F him to you know where and back. -- Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) November 14, 2015

if the attack was aided through "whistleblowers" leaking what the NSA cannot penetrate, will that be part of the movie? -- GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) November 14, 2015

In response to the Charlie Hebdo attacks that hit Paris in January of 2015, France adopted one of the most aggressive surveillance laws in the Western world. That was not enough to stop these attacks.

There is no sign of how the Friday attacks were coordinated and executed. It's also not clear who exactly carried out the deadly massacres but witness accounts and video feature screams of "Allah Akbar" and mentions of Syria.

On television in America, on-screen experts quickly began speculating that encryption, as well as more precise knowledge of the West's intelligence capabilities, could have played a role in the attacks.

Commentary from terror expert on CNN: "The terrorists have read Snowden. They know not to use their phones. We cannot predict anything now." -- Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 14, 2015

My local news anchor just blamed the Paris attacks on strong crypto, essentially. -- Sean Gallagher (@thepacketrat) November 14, 2015

There is no public information about the planning behind the attack, so any suggestion that Snowden or encryption are to blame is conjecture. The pointed speculation against Snowden attracted criticism as well.

Now routine for CNN to have guest on after terrorist attack who makes baseless claims about @Snowden being responsible & isn't challenged -- Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) November 14, 2015

Illustration by Max Fleishman

[Daffynition]

Is that the reason why **ÂÂÂ...ÂÂ** FR is having such issues? We’re being encrypted? ...and I don’t have the app? :)

[Eddie01]

Enemy.

Islam need to act of provocation.

They are preprogrammed to destroy.

[Eddie01]

Islam need no act of provocation.

[353FMG]

There cab be only ONE guilty party — ISLAM

[Red in Blue PA]

It’s not the ones doing the killing who are guilty.....no the government breaking the laws.

It’s that guy over there/s

[Eddie01]

Who would excuse this behavior except the enemy?

[TBP]

Snowden is getting blamed? OK.

[seacapn]

Encryption is primarily valuable against criminal actions/data thefts/etc. That’s always going to be the case no matter what Snowden or anyone else “reveals.”

[goodwithagun]

Yes. Encryption issues are what caused Islamofascists to continue Mad Moe’s legacy. Sure. We’ll go with that.

[Yaelle]

It’s paved roads. Obama said no one did this alone. If it weren’t for the paved roads, this would not have happened.

[bgill]

Wait until they blame the Travel Gnome.

[TADSLOS]

If Bush’s blonde bimbo Perino blames him, it must be true. /s

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

So it wasn’t a video!

[goodwithagun]

Hell, I’m impressed they haven’t blamed Bush. Yet.

[sparklite2]

This is already descending to “understanding is forgiving.” We see the same thing in describing black violence in this country in terms of struggle, hopelessness, and poverty. Trot out the usual excuses while ignoring the cultural (blacks) and civilizational (islamists) sewers these pathologies spring from.

[kiryandil]

Yeah, it's "the strong encryption".

It's got NOTHING to do with the West being taken over by politically correct Commie pussies.

The Founding Fathers, the Civil War generation, the WWI generation, and the WWII generation would sorted these Muslims in a New York minute.

[Navy Patriot]

Edward Snowden and spread of encryption blamed after Paris terror attacks

Thanks, Daily Dot, I needed that!

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Blame Snowden. Got it.

Encryption existed well before Snowden and was already commonplace

[vbmoneyspender]

They used autos for transportation so are cars at fault?

Must not mention Islam.
Must not mention Islam.
Must not mention Islam.