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Edward Snowden: The Man Who Declared War on America

Kazuo Ishiguro

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Published in Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War On America

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Edward Snowden is a former intelligence contractor who leaked classified information from the United States government in 2013. The information he leaked revealed the extent of the government's surveillance program, which had been collecting data on millions of Americans without their knowledge or consent.

Snowden's actions sparked a global debate about the balance between security and privacy. Some people praised him as a hero for exposing the government's overreach, while others condemned him as a traitor for betraying his country.

bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America

by Yossef Bodansky

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Snowden has since lived in exile in Russia, where he has been granted asylum. He continues to advocate for privacy rights and has become a symbol of resistance against government surveillance.

Early Life and Career

Edward Snowden was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in 1983. He grew up in a military family and attended high school in Maryland. After graduating from high school, Snowden joined the Army but was discharged after a few months due to a broken leg.

Snowden then began working in the intelligence community. He held various positions at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA). In 2013, Snowden was working as a contractor for the NSA when he leaked classified information to the media.

The Snowden Leaks

In June 2013, Snowden leaked classified information to the Guardian newspaper and the Washington Post. The information he leaked revealed the extent of the government's surveillance program, which had been collecting data on millions of Americans without their knowledge or consent.

The Snowden leaks sparked a global debate about the balance between security and privacy. Some people praised Snowden as a hero for exposing the government's overreach, while others condemned him as a traitor for betraying his country.

Snowden's leaks also had a significant impact on the US government. The government launched a criminal investigation into Snowden's actions and charged him with espionage. Snowden fled to Russia, where he has been granted asylum.

Life in Exile

Snowden has been living in exile in Russia since 2013. He has been granted asylum by the Russian government and has become a symbol of resistance against government surveillance.

Snowden has continued to advocate for privacy rights and has criticized the US government's surveillance program. He has also called for the US government to reform its surveillance laws and to protect the privacy of its citizens.

Legacy

Edward Snowden is a controversial figure. Some people praise him as a hero for exposing the government's overreach, while others condemn him as a traitor for betraying his country.

Regardless of one's opinion of Snowden, there is no doubt that his actions have had a significant impact on the world. The Snowden leaks have sparked a global debate about the balance between security and privacy and have led to changes in the way that governments collect data on their citizens.