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Edward Snowden’s life changed in one night when he fled to Hong Kong, China and handed over a cache of classified documents from the NSA to select journalists. Exposures that top-secret surveillance programmes target both American and foreign citizens alike have fueled a globe-circling debate on privacy, security, and government overreach. In a matter of hours, Snowden would become one of the most polarizing figures in modern history, hailed as a hero by some for exposing government overreach and condemned as a traitor by others for compromising national security.
His actions sparked outrage, admiration, and a continuing debate over the balance between privacy and safety. It is believed that Snowden resides in asylum in Moscow, Russia, and there are reports that he hopes to relocate to Latin America. Depending on one’s perspective, whether he is deemed a whistleblower or a fugitive, his story continues to be a flashpoint in discussions related to personal freedoms and government accountability.
Safe in Russia for the Moment
The US government wasted no time after Edward Snowden’s explosive revelations. On June 21, 2013, the Department of Justice charged him with two counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property. Since then, Snowden has become one of the most wanted individuals in the world.
Currently, Snowden is in Moscow, Russia, where he was granted asylum. Russia let him initially stay for one year, then extended his right to remain, a move that has infuriated the U.S. government. Reports have suggested that he can stay in Russia until at least 2020, but Snowden keeps a low profile in an undisclosed location. His circumstances notwithstanding, Snowden reportedly is seeking asylum elsewhere in the hopes of finding some more permanent refuge. He remained the complicated and contentious chapter of the debate over whistleblower matters and national security.
Motivation for His Actions
Edward Snowden is fated to go down in history as that man who drew the veil off the face of global surveillance programs and exposed the whole breadth of this surveillance by governments. The documents he leaked exposed operations that were predominantly driven by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance, comprising intelligence agencies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These activities had been done in cooperation with European governments and telecommunications companies and raised concerns about the proper weight of security versus privacy in contemporary society.
The implications, to Snowden, were anything but a matter of professional disappointment-it was strictly personal. Speaking to what motivated him to make such a daring and hazardous decision, he said, “I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded.”. My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them.” His words underscored a moral conviction which many felt, but around the world, opinions of his actions were divided.
The revelations were staggering:. They reveal how governments have been collecting enormous volumes of data-not only on suspected criminals or foreign adversaries, but on ordinary citizens who have done nothing to raise suspicion. Metadata on phone calls, emails, use of the Internet, and even personal text messages were collected, often without explicit consent or knowledge of those involved. What was in the name of national security to contain terrorism and other threats, according to governments, was an overreach in power and a breach of fundamental freedoms for Snowden and his supporters.
A Man with Many Labels
The American government views him differently and took legal steps to bring him back to the country so that he can face justice. Others are divided in their opinion, and Snowden has variously been called a hero, dissident, whistleblower, patriot, and a traitor.
His disclosures have aggravated discussions about mass surveillance, government secrecy, and the delicate balance that must be maintained between national security and information privacy.
The Man with No Country
Several countries have offered him asylum, including Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. However, there are no direct flights to these countries from Moscow, and the U.S. government put pressure on countries along Snowden’s route to hand him over.
Edward Snowden himself said that he preferred to stay in Russia as there was no safe way for him to reach Latin America. Today, with uncertainty in both the U.S. and in Russia, Snowden is in a precarious position about where he will stay in the future. For the moment, he is that rare man without a country to call his own. Patriot or traitor? What’s your opinion on Edward Snowden?
