celebrate christmas openly and in safety. >> now to a christmas message from nsa whistle blower edward snowdon. he taped one that aired in london to counter the annual message from the queen. snowdon almost up staged new pictures of the queen's new grandchild prince george. >> reporter: he quickly transitioned into the main theme of his address, privacy or the a lack there have. he said the late british author george orwell, would have no idea what real capabilities modern technologies would allow governments to snoop into people's private lives. he warned that a child being born today may very well live his or her life never knowing what personal privacy is. >> the conversation according to them will determine the amount of trust we can place both in the technology that surrounds us, and the government that regulates it. together we can find a better balance, end mass surveillance, and remind the government if it really wants to know how we feel, asking is always cheaper than spying. >> in contrast the queen gave her traditional christmas address, and she spoke for a great period of time refl

. >> reporter: edward snowdon caller for the end of mass surveillance in a christmas message. >>> thousandsurn out in st. peter square as pope francis celebrate his first christmas as pontiff.

edward snowdon came in seventh.ns is lighting up for christmas, an old greek tradition that was survived this year. for many years greeks decoratede boats instead of trees to welcome sailors home there. thanks for watching al jazeera america. i'm del walters. "techknow" is next. you can see all the news by going to www.aljazeera.com. the intersection of hardware and humanity and we're doing it in a unique way. marita davidson is a biologist specializing inning innings innd evolution. kosta grammatis is an engineer who designed a buy ontic eye. >>> i'm phil torres, i'm an entomologist.

what we learned over the last few months from whistle blower edward snowdon is the nsa is hoovering up vast quantities of information whether you're an american citizen or not and storing it. they say that has to stop. they also say that what is needed is more oversight legal framework. they're getting worried. they fear the more we learn about the u.s. government's surveillance for americans and non-americans, but the lesser we trust american internet companies who are seen having cooperated with the u.s. government in handing over all our information. >> we're talking about big business versus what some call big brother. can they prevail? >> reporter: clearly they have a lot of money and clout. one of those in the congress who is sponsoring legislation is dianne feinstein, senator from california, and her reform codifies and enshrines mass data surveillance. but there is another bill in congress which they seem to echo a bipartisan bill. president obama is talking about self-restraint for the nsa. we'll have to say. >> thank you very much. >>> coming up, money and guns. congress work

we've learned from edward snowdon is the collecting and storing. they say that has to end. there has to be more of a legal framework and more accountability and transparency about these operations. they're very worried. these internet companies say they're worried as a result customers around the world simply aren't going to use their services if there is going to be a direct line to the government. as you suggested there are questions that aren't addressed. for stars, why do these companies collect so much information about us in the first place. maybe if they didn't collect so much information and store it away, maybe the government wouldn't raid their companies and keep it for use. >> how powerful could they be in their lobbying. according to research some of these complicit with thes in sa and question are raised about their complicit. >> reporter: yes, and some of these companies say they only cooperated with the government because they were under legal duress. for others it's not so clear. that's some of the debase going on in the technology community, how much duplic

the pope beat out nsa leaker edward snowdon. and here is the pope being named person of the year is jeffrey sacks. director and worked with the pope. great to see you. great to have you on the program. first of all, what is your reaction from this honor from "time" magazine. >> first, they're right. and second, it's wonderful. because this pope is changing the world's perception on many crucial things especially social justice. >> you've met with the pope, and you have been meeting with the vatican, what are you working on? >> well, listening to the pope, the vatican is energized to look for new paths for social inclusion, social justice, fighting extreme poverty, and protecting the environment. those are issues all completely dear to my heart, so i've been working with the pontifical academy of science and pontifical council of justice and peace, and also visited with the pope with a group of world leaders, group of religious leaders last month. >> what are you communicating? what are you saying to the people that you're meetin

nsa whistle blower edward snowed enrecorde snowdon. >> reporter: edward snowden first wished britains a merry christmas and then transitioned into his main message of his address, privacy or the lack there have. he said that the late author george orwell had no idea what latest technology would allow government to snoop into people's private lives, and warned that a child being born today may live or her life never knowinknowing what personal pr is. >> the conversation today will determine the kind of trust we can place in the technology that surrounds us and the government that regulates it. together we can find a better balance. end mass surveillance and remind the government if it really wants to know how we feel, asking is always cheaper than spying. >> reporter: in contrast the queen gave her traditional christmas address, and she spoke for great period of time reflecting on the last year, 60 years since her core nation, and certainly a momentous year when it comes to the addition of the royal family. >> my own family is a little larger this christmas. as many of you may know the

communication of edward snowden to the brazilian people and his effort to solicit asylum from brazil. ir response is noted and welcomed by the united states. thes evident that what snowdondisclosures have done, aside from creating a level of se at one part of our relationship, we have , both among usm brazilian a hunger tois continue our engagement and to continue to look for ways to fashion a more fluid and productive business and investment relationship between the two countries. in this regard, i think we have a lot to work from. we continue to see a huge flow of brazilian students to the united states, which will continue to have a big impact on american universities, especially american graduate programs. be influx of students will the largest influx of students from the western hemisphere that we have seen so far in the 21st century. in that sense, i think the impact of resilient students on american universities and graduate programs is going to continue to be large. earlier,cated law -- the visa demand has not slacked off. it grows at an important rate. it creates an urgency for both governments to find a way to address the problems and the questions raised by t

edward snowden to the brazilian people and his effort to solicit asylum from brazil. their response is noted and welcomed by the united states. it is evident that what the snowdondisclosures have done, aside from creating a level of pause at one part of our relationship, we have found, both among usm brazilian business and businesses, is a hunger to continue our engagement and to continue to look for ways to fashion a more fluid and productive business and investment relationship between the two countries. in this regard, i think we have a lot to work from. we continue to see a huge flow of brazilian students to the united states, which will continue to have a big impact on american universities, especially american graduate programs. the influx of students will be the largest influx of students from the western hemisphere that we have seen so far in the 21st century. in that sense, i think the impact of resilient students on american universities and graduate programs is going to continue to be large. as i indicated earlier, the visa demand has not slacked off. it grows at an important rate. it creates an urgency for both governments to find a way to address t