At the same time, every new medium has always and can always also be used as an instrument of liberation, better communication, alternative thought and action. Print was the first important example, the computer is the latest. Even though, or rather because the computer networks are and will be used by the existing controlling powers, they must and will also be used by an increasing number of people against the powers, and no amount of electronic surveillance will stop that -apart form the fact that while surveillance is a reality no computer net is completely immune against it.
Intelligence agencies have access to good cryptographic technology.
So do the big arms and drug traffickers. So do defence contractors, oil companies, and other corporate giants. But ordinary people and local and alternative political organisations mostly have not had access to affordable ways of protect their privacy. Privacy is a right like any other. You have to exercise it or risk losing it.