by Luke Harding
First published 2014
The revelation breaks on June 5, 2013, when The Guardian publishes its explosive headline. Verizon phone company customers across America learn that the U.S. government has been secretly monitoring their call records. The story follows ordinary citizens as they grapple with this breach of privacy that touches millions of lives. Families, business owners, and activists must navigate a world where their communications are no longer private. The characters face difficult choices about trust, security, and freedom as the surveillance program's scope becomes clear. At its heart, this is a story about people caught between their government's promise of protection and their fundamental right to privacy. The emotional weight falls on individuals who never asked to become part of a national security apparatus, yet find their most personal conversations subject to official scrutiny.
Genres: american, crime, contemporary, non-fiction, 21st-century, activism
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: ordinary-people, personal-consequences
Setting: America, United States
Period: 2013
Paperback · Jincheng press.