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> We have to figure out a way to optimize those two things: privacy and public safety.

Given how safe the public is, you'd think that this would mean "we need to focus on privacy". That is the public's priority. The FBI, whose mandate is abviously not to protect the privacy of citizens, is obviously going to advocate for the public safety, or more specifically his organization's degree of visible success in ensuring it.

Obviously the director of the FBI is not who you should be asking for a balanced recommendation regarding safety and privacy.