Edward Snowden
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| Edward Snowden | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth date | June 21, 1983 |
| Birth place | Elizabeth City, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | National Security Agency leaks |
Edward Snowden is a former Central Intelligence Agency employee and National Security Agency contractor who gained international attention for leaking classified information about United States surveillance programs, including PRISM and XKeyscore. His actions have been widely debated, with some hailing him as a whistleblower and others condemning him as a traitor, sparking discussions about Mass surveillance, Privacy, and National security. Snowden's leaks have been compared to those of Daniel Ellsberg, who released the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War, and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. The Obama administration and Congress have been criticized for their handling of the situation, with some arguing that Snowden's actions were necessary to expose the USA PATRIOT Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuses.
● Early Life and Education
Snowden was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Ellicott City, Maryland. He attended Arundel High School but did not graduate, instead earning a General Educational Development certificate. Snowden's interest in Japanese culture and anime led him to learn Japanese, and he later worked as a security guard at the University of Maryland's Center for Advanced Study of Language. He also attended Anne Arundel Community College and studied computer science at University of Liverpool. Snowden's early life and education have been compared to those of other notable figures, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, who also dropped out of school to pursue their interests.
● Career
Snowden's career in the intelligence community began in 2006 when he joined the Central Intelligence Agency as an information technology specialist. He worked at the CIA's Global Communications Division and was stationed in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was exposed to classified information about National Security Agency surveillance programs. In 2009, Snowden left the CIA to work for Booz Allen Hamilton, a consulting firm that contracted with the National Security Agency. He was assigned to work at the NSA's facility in Hawaii, where he had access to classified information about PRISM and XKeyscore. Snowden's work at the NSA has been compared to that of William Binney, a former NSA employee who also criticized the agency's surveillance programs.
● National Security Agency Leaks
In 2013, Snowden leaked classified information about National Security Agency surveillance programs to The Guardian and The Washington Post. The leaks revealed the existence of PRISM and XKeyscore, which allowed the NSA to collect and analyze vast amounts of internet traffic and phone records. The leaks also revealed that the NSA had been working with telecommunications companies, such as Verizon and AT&T, to collect metadata about phone calls and email communications. The NSA leaks have been compared to the Pentagon Papers and the Church Committee's investigation into COINTELPRO. Snowden's actions have been praised by Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Daniel Ellsberg, who have all been critical of the NSA's surveillance programs.
● Aftermath and Asylum
After leaking the classified information, Snowden fled to Hong Kong, where he met with Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras to discuss the leaks. He then traveled to Moscow, Russia, where he was granted temporary asylum by the Russian government. Snowden's asylum in Russia has been criticized by the United States government, which has accused Vladimir Putin of harboring a fugitive. Snowden has also been granted permanent residency in Russia and has been living in Moscow with his wife, Lindsay Mills. The United Nations has criticized the United States for its treatment of Snowden, and the European Union has called for greater transparency about NSA surveillance programs.
● Personal Life and Activism
Snowden has been married to Lindsay Mills, a dancer and acrobatic performer, since 2019. He has also been involved in various activism efforts, including working with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation to promote privacy and transparency. Snowden has also written a memoir, Permanent Record, which details his life and experiences as a whistleblower. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Right Livelihood Award and the Olof Palme Prize. Snowden's activism has been compared to that of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning, who have also been critical of government secrecy and surveillance. The Snowden Archive has been established to preserve and provide access to the documents leaked by Snowden, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation has worked to support Snowden's efforts to promote press freedom and transparency.