The U.S. government has the capability to remotely turn on your cell phone and then surreptitiously​ activate its camera and microphone according to Edward Snowden.

In his interview with NBC News' Brian Williams, Snowden claimed that The NSA, the Russian intelligence service, the Chinese intelligence service, any intelligence service in the world that has significant funding and a real technological research team can own that phone… as soon as you turn it on, it can be theirs.”

Williams asked if people are safe from this intrusion if their device is turned off and Snowden claimed that the government could turn the device on, activate any of the apps and search the browser's history. He also maintains that this type of surveillance is “typically done on a targeted basis.”

The idea of government control of your cell phone is reminiscent of the film "The Dark Night." In the film, Bruce Wayne asks Lucius Fox, Wayne Enterprises' Chief of R&D, to develop a surveillance network tapping into every citizen of Gotham's smart phone and remotely activating the cameras and microphones of the devices to find the Joker. At the time of its release in 2008 the film was meant to be a commentary on wire taps ordered by the Bush Administration to identify potential terror attacks.

Now, according to Snowden, the comic book vision is a reality and could be employed by our government as well as America's well-funded enemies.