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Government Surveillance: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

LastWeekTonight · interview · Watch on YouTube

Privacy, surveillance & cybercrimeMedia, journalism & propaganda

What it is

John Oliver interviews Edward Snowden about NSA surveillance, including street interviews showing people have not thought about what the government can see. The segment famously frames the issue through private photos.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN points to it as the best way to explain to ordinary people why privacy and mass surveillance matter.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2015, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “Last Week Tonight did this bit brilliantly when they interviewed Edward Snowden”

    Brilliantly tells the surveillance story so everyone understands

    harryf, 2018-03 · Strong recommendation · in “Ex-Facebook insider says covert data harvesting was routine”

  2. “I believe John Oliver provided the best example when he interviewed Edward Snowden.”

    Best example of explaining why privacy matters

    LinuxBender, 2021-06 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: How to explain to others why privacy matters?”

  3. “John Oliver did a wonderful segment interviewing people about NSA surveillance.”

    Wonderful segment interviewing people about NSA surveillance

    tyre, 2016-03 · Recommendation · in “Apple files final response in San Bernardino iPhone case”

  4. “John Oliver's "Dick Pics" seem like a pretty good argument that can reach average citizens.”

    Dick pics argument reaches average citizens

    TeMPOraL, 2016-11 · Recommendation · in “Britain passed the “most extreme surveillance law ever passed in a democracy””

  5. “Or watch this”

    Shows people hadn't thought through surveillance implications

    jerf, 2017-04 · Recommendation · in “Amazon Echo Look”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: edward snowden, nsa, privacy, john oliver, mass surveillance

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