"“Some of the government’s statements have been particularly unhelpful,” he said. “Like, oh, we only spy on non-Americans.” Zuckerberg pointed out that Facebook is ”an international platform,” and most of its users aren’t American."
This is a critical point. The geographical shape of social media, ISPs and TSPs (US and otherwise) is different from that of governments.
So do we end up with a fractured internet because local sovereigns insist upon undermining user security for folks receiving service from their national carriers both inside and outside their own domain? Or are we going to end up with something more like maritime law for the internet?
Originally people thought the US was the guarantor of certain values of liberty. But in cyberspace it kinda appears the US has chosen local security rather than universal liberty. Read General Hayden's comments for example.
That is something a country is entitled to do. Some posters on this board support that stance.
But it has consequences. It also means the root of trust will have to reflect this new truth. End user rights and interests don't disappear at the frontier. The US isn't that exceptional.
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