Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, recently spoke out about his desire to dismantle and disperse three notable intelligence agencies—the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In a tweet, Dorsey wrote, “Splinter the CIA, NSA, and FBI into a thousand pieces and scatter them into the winds.” This statement suggests a strong stance against these agencies, though the interpretation of its further context is left open to speculation.
For added historical context, Dorsey included a link to John F. Kennedy’s official White House presidential portrait. Kennedy himself made similar criticisms of intelligence agencies during his presidency following the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, which left him feeling deceived by the CIA. He is reputed to have said that he would “splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter them to the winds.”
Twitter CEO Elon Musk was among those who responded to Dorsey’s tweet, replying with just an exclamation.
As for Dorsey’s recent comments about Musk, they differ from his past enthusiasm for Musk joining the Twitter board. Now, Dorsey has voiced criticism towards Musk’s management of the social media company.
Edward Snowden, a former United States whistleblower who leaked details of mass surveillance by the NSA while employed as a contractor, has similarly criticized his former organization for its surveillance practices, calling them a violation of privacy rights. Snowden advocates for greater transparency and accountability in intelligence operations, arguing that these activities infringe upon privacy and civil liberties.
In 2013, Snowden exposed classified documents that revealed extensive surveillance programs, including the mass collection of phone records and internet communications. After fleeing the United States, his passport was revoked, and he now resides in Russia, where he was granted citizenship in 2020.
