Thank you, Edward, but your time is up!
The former spy that once defied the power of the United States and now lives hidden in Russia is working as a poster boy for Huawei’s CEO? What are the odds?

In the exact moment that Edward Snowden was about to tell the crowd what we People really can do to stop the big techs to mess up democracy, the Spanish inquisition hit the stage. Suddenly halfway through his pitch the anchor man interrupted: Sorry Edward! Your time is up.
The audience of the WS2019 opening show — more than 20.000 — had been told to be quiet and stand still during the 60 minutes event. It was previously announced the show would be broadcasted live by 10 Television Networks worldwide — Guys we’re going live, they said. The program was impressive. Snowden in live streaming and Cosgrove on stage preparing the way for Guo Ping, the Chinese super star CEO. Minor players, a Portuguese minister and the Lisbon’s mayor. Cherry on top, Will Smith’s son Jaden shares is water saving technology. Spectacular, spectacular!
A former US spy workin as poster boy for China? what are the odds?
Snowden abashedly smiled at the camera when he was told he could no longer speak. Though he insists — “What is being done when the most powerful institutions in society are the least responsible? It’s not the data being explored, it’s the people.” But he was switched off. Time is over, the show must go on. Goodbye Edward.

Shortly after, it was Mr. Guo’s turn to take as the stage — for has long as he wanted — to sell China’s vision on the 5G mobile technology. 5G is hype of this “new cold” war that got Huawei blacklisted in the US and is making European leaders to be afraid to choose between China and US technology. Though nobody in the audience noticed it, the Portuguese political representatives asked not to be in the same room while Huawei’s CEO pitched.
In the same led wall where just a few minutes before, Snowden was about to warn us about the immense dangers that are now striking the heart of democracy, two musicians being apart for 18.000 km could play together using Chinese 5G. This is the new electricity, said Ping.
At Web Summit’s main stage, the supreme irony. The spy that once defied the power of the United States and now lives hidden in Russia was working as a poster boy for the CEO of China’s most powerful company.
Donald Trump might have a reason to be concerned. And so is the world.

