Julian Assange Is Right — Your Smartphone Is a Surveillance Device
Back in the early 2000s, we were still coming to terms with the internet as a tool of liberation. Fast forward to today, and the very devices that connect us — our smartphones, our Gmail accounts, our social media profiles — are quietly serving as tools of control. And Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, didn’t mince his words:
“You’re all screwed.”
A chilling reminder, especially for those of us in the global South, where we’ve embraced mobile technology faster than almost anywhere else in the world.
Post-9/11: The Birth of the Surveillance Economy
Assange’s warning isn’t just paranoia — it’s backed by years of disclosures. After 9/11, governments around the world — led by the United States — expanded mass surveillance programs in the name of national security. But behind these programs is an industry of private intelligence contractors, selling surveillance tools that can extract data from phones, emails, and even encrypted apps.
Think about that. Every time you unlock your phone, ask Siri a question, or sync your contacts to the cloud, you’re contributing to a data ecosystem designed not just for marketing — but for monitoring.
Smartphones: Our Favourite Spies
I’ve been warning about this for years in my digital literacy workshops: your smartphone is the most effective tracking device ever created. It knows where you are, who you speak to, what you read, how you sleep — and it quietly shares that information, often without your fully informed consent.
This is why Assange’s comments are not just alarmist — they’re a wake-up call. In South Africa, where mobile phones are the primary access point to the internet, we are particularly vulnerable. We’re connecting millions of people to a system they do not control and often do not understand.
A New Platform to Protect Whistleblowers
Assange also announced a new “source protection platform” under WikiLeaks — a system designed to safeguard whistleblowers in this age of total surveillance. It’s a reminder that information has power, and those who dare to speak out must be protected, not punished.
This is deeply relevant in South Africa, where whistleblowers have exposed corruption at the highest levels — often at great personal risk. Just look at cases from the State Capture Commission, where brave individuals came forward to reveal rot within government and private institutions. Without strong digital protection, these voices can be silenced before they’re even heard.
The Digital Freedom Dilemma
We face a difficult truth: our digital tools give us incredible freedom and incredible risk — often at the same time. So what can we do?
- Educate yourself on how data is collected and used.
- Use privacy-focused tools like Signal for messaging or ProtonMail for email.
- Demand better policies that protect whistleblowers and restrict unlawful surveillance.
- And most importantly: Stop treating convenience as harmless.
Final Thoughts
Julian Assange’s warning may sound bleak, but it’s also a call to reclaim agency in the digital age. The stakes are higher than ever — not just for journalists and activists, but for everyday people who deserve privacy, dignity, and freedom in their online lives.
We must stop sleepwalking through surveillance. The tools we love are also watching us — and unless we push back, the future may not be as free as we think.
Ramon Thomas is a digital strategist and researcher on technology’s impact on human behaviour. He speaks across South Africa on digital literacy, privacy, and ethical tech.
