Even if, for the sake of argument, we grant the premise “big tech IS THE ENEMY”, it does not necessarily follow that the vast mass surveillance national security apparatus is our friend.

I would never argue that and i hope that doesn't follow from my comment. To be absolutely clear: Any service that doesn't actively work for your privacy against any outside actor to the fullest extend of the law and technical possibility is to be considered an enemy of freedom.

It's the same coin.

Personally I hate both surveillance systems. I hate the American big tech surveillance system - under which companies like imgur sell the personal data of its users to anyone who comes knocking. And I hate the European chat control proposal, where the government wants to take that data by force.

Privacy is a human right.