He deleted, i.e. retracted it. In full. To harp on about it instead of talking about the story kinda sucks. We're talking about mass surveillance and everything being recorded, and look at what we are doing. Repeat after me: every day is a new day.
Sometimes it's tough to contain righteous internet rage. I think he knows that crossed the line and that is why he deleted the comment.
.. or he's doing Image Management.
He's a human being, and thus imperfect. He's still much easier to have a conversation with than 99% of the posters on HN.