Unfortunately we live in a world where in effect, many companies have become, for all practical purposes, cartoon villains. So , lamentably, cartoon villain plots are now reasonably anticipated outcomes.

The only thing missing is the motive of harm, which is handily replaced by the motive of profit with indifference to harm.

My hypothesis is that in his time with the NSA, Snowden witnessed the cartoon-villainy that he called out, and that because of that experience, he identifies this recent event (of appointing an ex-NSA military officer to guide OAI) as a highly probable symptom of further villainy, this time is something arguably more expansive and impactful than FAANG.

It seems to me a rather reasonable conclusion , and framing it in sensational terms as the most reasonable approach to “sound the alarm “- a role that, for better or for worse, Snowden has taken.

Where there is smoke, there is fire is still an extremely useful adage, despite the overt lack of scientific rigor in its application.

This is not what I had in mind when I hoped I would live in interesting times.