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Comment by edko | Hacker News Reader

If a government is going to spy on me, I'd rather it be my own.

I highly disagree. That you even say something like this, shows how privliged of a state you must live in.

Beeing spyed on by the same institution that has the monopoly on violence. If that institution stops liking me, I have a huge problem, a potentially life threatning situation. If the state of Iran has a simular problem with me, I don't care because they dont have a police force and an army in central europe.

Yes, it is said from my subjective point of view. I am not advocating for any state to spy on me, though.

It is interesting that you mentioned the state of Iran. They are, for example, responsible for the assassination of 85 innocent Argentinian civilians in '94, and I am sure of many other crimes around the world too. They did not have a police force or an army in Argentina. So, I think one should care.

One should care, but the question is what is more relevant. It is true that governments can act outside of their border, but its a lesser concern.

'If I'm going to be forced to eat a pile of shit for my lunch, I'd rather it be my own'

No thanks.

Against your own government you have at least some amount of leverage, be that through courts or legal system or by supporting a political movement. Against a foreign government you're out of options. There is no feasible way a german citizen can appeal an act of the american administration.

Gross, but also true.

That really doesn't make a lot of sense. I don't care if foreign governments spy on me, they can't enforce law here, my own government very much can.

Why? Foreign governments can't prosecute (or persecute) you.

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