How the Guardian newspaper destroyed computers with Edward Snowden files

On June 20, 2013, under the supervision of agents of the Center for Government Communications in the UK, three employees of the Guardian newspaper's London office, using Bulgarians, drills and electric grippers, literally powdered several computers that stored files obtained by Edward Snowden. Yesterday, January 31, for the first time a video was published that captured this absurd act. Despite the fact that Snowden's files are stored in several more places, and journalists from foreign departments of the Guardian, as well as other media with whom Snowden shared information, continue to work with them, the British authorities forced the Guardian to physically destroy several editorial computers.







According to Deputy Guardian editor Paul Johnson, who with two colleagues took part in the process, it took three hours to completely destroy the hard drives and all the electronic components of computers in strict accordance with the instructions of the security officers. “It was a purely symbolic act. We knew it. Government Communications Center staff knew this. And the government itself also knew. It was the most surreal event in British journalism that I had seen, ”he says.



This “destruction” of information was preceded by a lengthy conflict between journalists and intelligence services, during which the latter demanded not only to destroy the files on their computers, but also to transfer them to the authorities for analysis beforehand. Guardian editor Alan Rasbridger categorically refused to do so, citing his right not to disclose confidential sources of information. The newspaper was even threatened with closure. As a compromise, the parties agreed on the demonstrative destruction of equipment. Perhaps, the security services tried to save face and demonstrate their power in this way, even though it is absolutely meaningless in practical terms and can in no way prevent the press from continuing to publish Snowden materials.

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