Ai Weiwei on the NSA: Shocking if American citizens allow this to continue

It's not surprising that Ai Weiwei, whose outspoken career is illustrated in a show at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, has something to say about the NSA surveillance controversy currently swirling in the United States.

In an essay published June 11 in The Guardian, Ai Weiwei, who lived in the U.S. for 12 years, said, "To me, it's abusively using government powers to interfere with individual's privacy. … It will be shocking for me if American citizens allow this to continue."

He makes clear that different legal conditions exist in the U.S. and China but notes, "There is no guarantee that China, the U.S., or any other government will not use the information falsely or wrongly. I think especially that a nation like the U.S., which is technically advanced, should not take advantage of its power. It encourages other nations."

For the entire essay, click here.

Check out my review of the "Ai Weiwei: According to What?" exhibit at the IMA here. It runs through July 21 at the IMA.