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Although Hong Kong newspapers speculated about Snowden's future in the territory, Mainland Chinese media remained relatively silent on the issue at first.<ref>{{cite news|last=Minter|first=Adam|title=Snowden is in Hong Kong. Chinese Don't Care|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-10/snowden-is-in-hong-kong-chinese-don-t-care-.html|accessdate=June 12, 2013|publisher=Bloomberg|date=June 10, 2013}}</ref> There were reports from Chinese main stream media, including state-control media such as [[China Central Television|CCTV]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Live cross: Snowden will fight extradition to U.S.|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/bizasiaamerica/20130613/102756.shtml|accessdate=June 13, 2013|publisher=CCTV|date=June 13, 2013
Although Hong Kong newspapers speculated about Snowden's future in the territory, Mainland Chinese media remained relatively silent on the issue at first.<ref>{{cite news|last=Minter|first=Adam|title=Snowden is in Hong Kong. Chinese Don't Care|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-10/snowden-is-in-hong-kong-chinese-don-t-care-.html|accessdate=June 12, 2013|publisher=Bloomberg|date=June 10, 2013}}</ref> There were reports from Chinese main stream media, including state-control media such as [[China Central Television|CCTV]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Live cross: Snowden will fight extradition to U.S.|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/bizasiaamerica/20130613/102756.shtml|accessdate=June 13, 2013|publisher=CCTV|date=June 13, 2013
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Live cross: Ex-CIA agent flees to Hong Kong|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20130610/104202.shtml|accessdate=June 13, 2013|publisher=CCTV|date=June 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Studio interview: Will Snowden be extradited to US under HK law?|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130612/100423.shtml|accessdate=June 13, 2013|publisher=CCTV|date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> ''[[People's Daily]]''<ref>{{cite news|title=美“监控门”揭秘者被确认多项罪名 或面临引渡|url=http://world.people.com.cn/n/2013/0613/c157278-21831237.html|accessdate=June 13, 2013|work=People's Daily|date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> and major websites in China built special report pages.<ref>[http://news.sohu.com/s2013/prism/ 美国“棱镜门”事件-搜狐新闻<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The state-run ''[[China Daily]]'' noted that Snowden's revelations would strain [[Sino-American relations]], and quotes Li Haidong, a researcher of American studies at [[China Foreign Affairs University]] who said, "For months, Washington has been accusing China of cyberespionage, but it turns out that the biggest threat to the pursuit of individual freedom and privacy in the US is the unbridled power of the government".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2013-06/13/content_16613035.htm|title=Surveillance program a test of Sino-US ties|first=Chen|last=Weihua|first2=Zhendong|last2=Pu|work=China Daily|date=June 13, 2013|accessdate=June 14, 2013}}</ref> The ''[[People's Daily]]'', an organ of the [[Central Committee of the Communist Party of China]], in an editorial said "...we appreciate and salute the efforts of Snowden et al, who have gambled their career, family, personal freedom, and even their life to let the global public know what the most powerful force in the world is doing with perhaps the central infrastructure of our age; to make the public aware that this force is acting in an unconstitutional manner and entirely contrary to the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]]."<ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/8285161.html Whistleblower welcome in China]</ref>
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Live cross: Ex-CIA agent flees to Hong Kong|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20130610/104202.shtml|accessdate=June 13, 2013|publisher=CCTV|date=June 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Studio interview: Will Snowden be extradited to US under HK law?|url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130612/100423.shtml|accessdate=June 13, 2013|publisher=CCTV|date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> ''[[People's Daily]]''<ref>{{cite news|title=美“监控门”揭秘者被确认多项罪名 或面临引渡|url=http://world.people.com.cn/n/2013/0613/c157278-21831237.html|accessdate=June 13, 2013|work=People's Daily|date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> and major websites in China built special report pages.<ref>[http://news.sohu.com/s2013/prism/ 美国“棱镜门”事件-搜狐新闻<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The state-run ''[[China Daily]]'' noted that Snowden's revelations would strain [[Sino-American relations]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2013-06/13/content_16613035.htm|title=Surveillance program a test of Sino-US ties|first=Chen|last=Weihua|first2=Zhendong|last2=Pu|work=China Daily|date=June 13, 2013|accessdate=June 14, 2013}}</ref> The ''[[People's Daily]]'', an organ of the [[Central Committee of the Communist Party of China]], in an editorial used to denounce "what the most powerful force in the world is doing with perhaps the central infrastructure" and to praise Snowden for "mak[ing] the public aware that this force is acting in an unconstitutional manner and entirely contrary to the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]]."<ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/8285161.html Whistleblower welcome in China]</ref> Similarly, [[China Internet Information Center]] published a [[political cartoon]] depicting a rat dressed as a [[Statue of Liberty]] while grabbing at a [[Flag of China]], and denounced the "one-sided" cyber attack accusations which the United States has "poured upon China".<ref>{{cite web|title=Whistleblower welcome in China|url=http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/2013-06/14/content_29120530.htm|publisher=[[China Internet Information Center]]|accessdate=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

[[China Internet Information Center]] published a [[political cartoon]] depicting a rat dressed as a [[Statue of Liberty]] while grabbing at a [[Flag of China]], and denounced the "one-sided" cyber attack accusations which the United States has "poured upon China".<ref>{{cite web|title=Whistleblower welcome in China|url=http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/2013-06/14/content_29120530.htm|publisher=[[China Internet Information Center]]|accessdate=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

On June 15, Hong Kong Chief Executive [[Leung Chun-ying]] said in a statement: “When the relevant mechanism is activated, the Hong Kong Sar government will handle the case of Mr Snowden in accordance with the laws and established procedures of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the government will follow up on any incidents related to the privacy or other rights of the institutions or people in Hong Kong being violated.”<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1261593/cy-leung-breaks-silence-snowden-case-we-will-follow-privacy-claims |title=HK, US govt lawyers 'not working together' on Snowden, say sources as CY breaks silence | newspaper=South China Morning Post |date=June 16, 2013}}</ref> Hong Kong politician [[Albert Ho Chun-yan]] also spoke saying: "It's unlawful, unjustified and unscrupulous … We demand the whole truth be disclosed by the US administration, an unconditional apology from [President Barack] Obama and an assurance this interference will stop."<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite news |first1=Tania |last1=Branigan |first2=Jonathan |last2=Kaiman|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/15/do-not-extradite-edward-snowden-hong-kong-protesters |title=Do not extradite Edward Snowden, protesters urge | work=The Guardian | date=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

Hong Kong legislators [[Gary Fan]] and [[Claudia Mo]] said that "a dangerous precedent and will likely be used to justify similar actions" if Snowden is prosecuted.<ref>"[http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/130615/hk-lawmakers-petition-obama-leniency-against-whistlebl H.K. lawmakers petition Obama for leniency against whistleblower]." ''[[Kyodo News International]]''. June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.</ref>


Several hundred Hong Kong residents gathered on June 15 to support Snowden and to voice their opposition to US surveillance policies.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Also on that date, a poll conducted in Hong Kong and reported in the ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' showed that half of the 509 respondents believed the Chinese government should not surrender Snowden to the United States if Washington raises such a request. According to the poll, 33 per cent of Hong Kong residents think of Snowden as a hero, 12.8 per cent described him as a traitor, 23 per cent described him as “something in between”, and the remainder said they could not comment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1261483/one-2-hongkongers-say-snowden-should-not-be-surrendered-us |title=Hongkongers don't want Snowden handed over to the US, according to poll |newspaper=South China Morning Post |date=June 16, 2013}}</ref>
Several hundred Hong Kong residents gathered on June 15 to support Snowden and to voice their opposition to US surveillance policies.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Also on that date, a poll conducted in Hong Kong and reported in the ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' showed that half of the 509 respondents believed the Chinese government should not surrender Snowden to the United States if Washington raises such a request. According to the poll, 33 per cent of Hong Kong residents think of Snowden as a hero, 12.8 per cent described him as a traitor, 23 per cent described him as “something in between”, and the remainder said they could not comment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1261483/one-2-hongkongers-say-snowden-should-not-be-surrendered-us |title=Hongkongers don't want Snowden handed over to the US, according to poll |newspaper=South China Morning Post |date=June 16, 2013}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:34, 16 June 2013

Edward Snowden
Born
Edward Joseph Snowden

(1983-06-21) June 21, 1983 (age 41)[1]
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States
StatusUnknown, last known whereabouts: Hong Kong[2]
NationalityUnited States
OccupationSystem administrator
EmployerBooz Allen Hamilton (until June 10, 2013)
Known forPRISM surveillance program whistleblowing

Edward Joseph Snowden (born June 21, 1983)[1] is an American former technical contractor and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee who worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), before disclosing details of classified NSA mass surveillance programs to the press.[5][6] Snowden shared classified material on top-secret NSA programs including the PRISM surveillance program with The Guardian and The Washington Post, both of whom published their first exposés in June 2013. Snowden said his disclosure of PRISM and FISA orders related to NSA data capture efforts was an effort "to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them."[6][7][8]

Family and education

Edward Snowden was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.[9] His father, a resident of Pennsylvania, was an officer in the United States Coast Guard;[10] and his mother, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, is a clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.[11][9] He has an older sister, an attorney.[9]

By 1999, Snowden had moved with his family to Ellicott City, Maryland, where he studied computing at Anne Arundel Community College[9] in order to gain the credits necessary to obtain a high school diploma, but he did not complete the coursework.[12] He later obtained a GED.[8][13] Snowden did some work online towards a Master's Degree at the University of Liverpool in 2011.[14]

Before leaving for Hong Kong, Snowden resided in Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii, with his girlfriend.[15]

Career

In 2002, Snowden was working for Ryuhana Press, a now-defunct start-up that sold anime art.[16]

On May 7, 2004, Snowden enlisted in the United States Army with the hope of eventually joining the Special Forces.[1] He said, "I wanted to fight in the Iraq war because I felt like I had an obligation as a human being to help free people from oppression"[8] but was discharged just months later on September 28 after, he said, breaking both of his legs in a training accident. His next employment was as a National Security Agency (NSA) security guard for the covert Center for Advanced Study of Language at the University of Maryland,[17] before joining the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to work on IT security.[18]

In 2007, the CIA stationed him with diplomatic cover in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was responsible for maintaining computer network security.[19] Snowden left the agency in 2009 for a private contractor inside an NSA facility on a United States military base in Japan.[8]

At the time of his departure from the US in May 2013, he had been working for consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton for less than three months as a system administrator inside the NSA in Hawaii.[20][21] He described his life as "very comfortable," earning a salary of "roughly US$200,000",[8] although his employer disputed this claim on June 10, when he was fired "for violations of the firm's code of ethics and firm policy."[22][23] Glenn Greenwald, a journalist who initially interviewed Snowden and reported Snowden's revelations, later wrote, “It's possible Booz Allen is using a pro-rated figure, or it's possible Snowden talked about his salary at his prior NSA job at Dell.”[24][25]

Personal views

The Guardian describes Snowden as intensely passionate about the value of privacy; his laptop displays stickers supporting internet freedom organizations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Tor Project.[8] Snowden had a small digital footprint. Within 24 hours of revealing himself, according to the newspaper, the footprint included the "barest details about his family" and that there were no new photographs, no Facebook and Twitter status updates "if indeed Snowden had any" and no interviews with associates from high school.[26]

Having worked at a U.S. military base in Japan, Snowden reportedly had a deep interest in Japanese popular culture and studied the Japanese language.[27] He also has a basic understanding of Mandarin, was deeply interested in martial arts, and claimed Buddhism as his religion.[28] Snowden had previously visited Hong Kong on holiday with his girlfriend.[29]

In the 2008 presidential election, Snowden voted for third-party candidates. He said he "believed in Obama's promises," yet "[Obama] continued with the policies of his predecessor."[30] For the 2012 election, political donation records indicate that he contributed to the primary campaign of Ron Paul.[31]

NSA surveillance disclosures

Main articles: PRISM (surveillance program), NSA call database, and Boundless Informant

Media disclosures

A top secret document leaked by Edward Snowden to The Guardian, originally due to be declassified on April 12, 2038

Snowden first made contact with documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras in January 2013.[32] According to Poitras, Snowden chose to contact her after seeing her report on William Binney, an NSA whistleblower, in The New York Times. She is a board member of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, along with journalist Glenn Greenwald and renowned whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.[33] Greenwald, reporting for The Guardian, claims to have been working with Snowden since February,[34] and Barton Gellman, writing for The Washington Post, says his first "direct contact" was on May 16.[35] However, Gellman alleges Greenwald was only involved after the Post declined to guarantee publication of the full documents within 72 hours.[35]

Snowden communicated using encrypted email,[32] using the codename "Verax", meaning truth-teller in Latin. He asked not to be quoted at length for fear of identification by semantic analysis.[35]

According to Gellman, prior to their first meeting in person, Snowden wrote, "I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions, and that the return of this information to the public marks my end."[35] Snowden also told Gellman that until the articles were published, the journalists working with him would also be at risk from the U.S. intelligence community, whom Snowden said "will most certainly kill you if they think you are the single point of failure that could stop this disclosure and make them the sole owner of this information."[35]

The Washington Post reported that the motive behind the disclosure was to expose the "surveillance state" that he felt the United States was becoming.[5]

I don't want to live in a society that does these sort of things … I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded.

— Edward Snowden, speaking to The Guardian in June 2013[30]

Timeline

In May 2013, Snowden was permitted temporary leave from his position at the NSA in Hawaii, on the pretext of receiving treatment for his epilepsy.[8] According to local real estate agents, Snowden and his girlfriend moved out of their home on May 1, leaving nothing behind.[12]

On May 20, Snowden flew to the Chinese territory of Hong Kong and stayed in a hotel in touristy Tsim Sha Tsui.[36][37] Snowden checked out of the hotel four days after the news broke.[36][38] Despite his knowledge of surveillance techniques, he "signed in under his own name, using his own credit cards".[39] He possessed four computers, some clothes, a Rubik's Cube, and a copy of Gellman's book Angler.[40][39]

On June 6, Gellman quotes Snowden as having "jitters", and saying that "the police already visited my house [in Hawaii] this morning".[35] The PRISM revelations were published by The Washington Post later that day, followed 20 minutes later by The Guardian.[34]

Snowden's identity was made public by The Guardian at his request,[34] on June 9. He explained his reasoning for forgoing anonymity: "I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong."[8] He also wished to protect his colleagues from being put through any inquiries.[39] Greenwald said that while Snowden was using personal savings, money is "probably very low [on his] long list of worries".[41]

On June 14, AP claimed they had a copy of a letter from the UK Home Office to all airlines, urging them to deny boarding to Mr. Snowden on any flight to the United Kingdom, as he is "highly likely to be refused entry", despite breaking no law in the UK and having no charges brought against him in the US.[42] Speaking unofficially, a British diplomat said that any airline that brought Snowden into the country would be liable to be fined $3100.[43]

Possible political asylum

Snowden has said that he has a "predisposition to seek asylum in a country with shared values," and that his ideal choice would be Iceland.[6][8] The International Modern Media Institute, an Icelandic freedom of speech advocacy organisation, on the day his identity was revealed issued a statement offering Snowden legal advice and assistance in gaining asylum.[44] However, Kristin Arnadottir, the Icelandic ambassador to China, pointed out that an asylum cannot be granted to Snowden because Icelandic law requires such applications be made from within the country.[45]

Snowden has vowed to challenge any extradition attempt by the US government, and he was reported to have approached several human rights lawyers.[46] In an interview with Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, Snowden said that his intention is to remain in Hong Kong until "asked to leave".[47] Snowden added that his intention was to let the "courts and people of Hong Kong" decide his fate, and he sees "no reason" to doubt the city's judiciary.[48] New York University law professor Jerome A. Cohen noted that the judiciary of Hong Kong might find that Snowden's case fell under the political offence exception to the extradition treaty.[49]

Reactions

US Government

The NSA has made a request from the Department of Justice for a criminal probe into Snowden's actions. Director of National Intelligence, James R. Clapper, said that his "reckless disclosures" have resulted in "significant misimpressions" in the media.[50] Speaking before Snowden was named, chairman of the US Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Rogers said of the whistleblower: "I absolutely think they should be prosecuted."[51]

Former employers

Snowden's employer Booz Allen Hamilton released a statement on June 9 condemning his actions as "shocking" and "a grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm."[20] The statement emphasized his short-term involvement with the firm, and disputed his claimed salary of US$200,000, instead suggesting US$122,000 as the correct figure.[52] Booz Allen Hamilton's stock value dropped after Snowden's association with them became public knowledge.[53] The company terminated Snowden's employment on June 10.[54]

Public figures

Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower and leaker of the top-secret Pentagon Papers in 1971, stated in an interview with CNN that he thought Snowden had done an "incalculable" service to his country and that his leaks might prevent America from becoming a surveillance state. He said Snowden had acted with the same sort of courage and patriotism as a soldier in battle.[55] In an op-ed the following morning, Ellsberg added that "there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden's release of NSA material – and that includes the Pentagon Papers, for which I was responsible 40 years ago."[56] Ray McGovern, a retired CIA officer who presented White House intelligence briefs for multiple presidents, said he agreed with Ellsberg in an interview where he also said "this time today I'm feeling much more hopeful for our democracy that I was feeling this time yesterday".[57]

Julian Assange praised and lauded Snowden, calling him a "hero" who has exposed "one of the most serious events of the decade – the creeping formulation of a mass surveillance state".[58] Journalist Glenn Greenwald has also praised Snowden.[59] The ACLU has sued the Obama administration over the issue of NSA surveillance.[60]

Several political figures across the political spectrum have praised Edward Snowden for exposing secret government surveillance to the public. These include Chris Hedges[61] and Michael Moore[62] on the left; and Glenn Beck,[62] Matt Drudge,[63] former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson,[64] Alex Jones,[65] former Representative Ron Paul,[66] Michael Savage,[67] and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura[68] of conservative and libertarian convictions. Former 2008 Libertarian Party candidate for president Bob Barr, said “That’ll take care of itself. It’s not, did one man violate the law, but did the U.S. government violate the law?”.[69]

Members of Congress

Members of the Republican Party differed in their stances towards Snowden. Republican-affiliated figures opposing Snowden include John Boehner, Saxby Chambliss, and Erick Erickson. House Speaker Boehner called Snowden "a 'traitor' who has put Americans at risk." Chambliss, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, supported the intelligence collecting as a means to combat terrorism and Erickson "pilloried Snowden for fleeing 'to the communists'.” Republican-affiliated figures supporting Snowden include Ken Langone, Barry Loudermilk, and Ron Paul.[70] Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) said: "Whether or not this program was authorized by Congress, it seems to me that this is an unconstitutional activity ... Which would make it illegal, and he should have some kind of immunity.”[71] Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said: "If it is the case that the federal government is seizing millions of personal records about law-abiding citizens, and if it is the case that there are minimal restrictions on accessing or reviewing those records, then I think Mr. Snowden has done a considerable public service by bringing it to light."[72]

Some U.S. politicians have called for arrest of Edward Snowden. These include senator and chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Dianne Feinstein (D-CA),[73] senator and chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC),[74] Bill Nelson (D-FL), and John Thune (R-SD);[75][71] Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH),[76] House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA),[77] Representative and Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers (R-MI),[78] and Representatives Peter King (R-NY),[79] Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL),[80] and Charlie Dent (R-PA).[81]

Peter King, formerly the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, called for Snowden's extradition from Hong Kong.[82] He also called for journalist Glenn Greenwald to be arrested.[83]

Press and public

American media theorist, author and CNN columnist, Douglas Rushkoff, wrote that Snowden's leak was an "act of heroism."[84] Bruce Schneier, a cryptographer and security specialist who has written extensively on surveillance and privacy, remarked "I believe that history will hail Snowden as a hero – his whistle-blowing exposed a surveillance state and a secrecy machine run amok."[85] Commenting broadly on Snowden's actions, he wrote that "whistle-blowing is the moral response to immoral activity by those in power [...] If you see something, say something. There are many people in the U.S. that will appreciate and admire you."[86]

Amy Davidson, writing in The New Yorker, said Snowden "is the reason our country has, in the last week, been having a conversation on privacy and the limits of domestic surveillance. That was overdue, and one wishes it had been prompted by self-examination on the part of the Obama Administration or real oversight by Congress."[87] John Cassidy, also of The New Yorker, called Snowden "a hero," saying "he uncovered questionable activities that those in power would rather have kept secret." "In revealing the colossal scale of the U.S. government's eavesdropping on Americans and other people around the world, he has performed a great public service that more than outweighs any breach of trust he may have committed."[88]

In a FoxNews.com column headlined "Why Americans should thank Edward Snowden," Robert Romano of Americans for Limited Government said Snowden is responsible for exposing a "web of surveillance... where all communications, public and private, are being stored in a government database for later use, and when it is used against the people, there is no recourse."[89]

Other commentators have been more critical of Snowden's methods and motivations,[90] and some have expressed particular concern about his seeking refuge in Hong Kong.[91][92] For instance, New York Times columnist David Brooks accused Snowden of betraying the Constitution, stating that "the founders did not create the United States so that some solitary 29-year-old could make unilateral decisions about what should be exposed."[93] In response Amy Davidson said "This is an odd perspective" because the Founding Fathers of the United States created the Constitution to allow a "solitary voice" to be heard despite any power structures and "they would not want a twenty-nine-year-old to feel so overcome with gratitude for his social betters—so humbled that they had noticed him—that he would be silent."[94]

Jeffrey Toobin of The New Yorker, though conceding that whistle-blowers are indispensable to a society with a free press, characterizes Snowden's approach as "reckless." saying that "all of Snowden's secrets may wind up in the hands of the Chinese government—which has no commitment at all to free speech or the right to political dissent."[95] James Fallows wrote that "if Snowden thinks, as some of his comments seem to suggest, that he has found a bastion of freer speech [in Hong Kong], then he is ill-informed; and if he knowingly chose to make his case from China he is playing a more complicated game."[91] Matt Schiavenza, associate editor at The Atlantic, called Snowden's decision to go to Hong Kong a "serious miscalculation," particularly if the Beijing government decided to try to use him as an intelligence asset.[96]

Shortly after Snowden revealed his identity, a petition[97] was posted on the White House website, asking for "a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes [Snowden] has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs."[98][99] This petition has gathered more than 75,000 signatures.[97] To require a response by the White House, the petition must reach 100,000 signatures within 30 days.[97]

A similar Avaaz petition received more than 900,000 signatures.[100]

Response from China

File:Statue of Liberty attacks flag of China.jpg
Chinese state media published a political cartoon that shows a rat grabbing at a Flag of China while dressed as a Statue of Liberty, and denounced the "one-sided cyber attack accusations" which the United States has "poured upon China"[101]

Although Hong Kong newspapers speculated about Snowden's future in the territory, Mainland Chinese media remained relatively silent on the issue at first.[102] There were reports from Chinese main stream media, including state-control media such as CCTV,[103][104][105] People's Daily[106] and major websites in China built special report pages.[107] The state-run China Daily noted that Snowden's revelations would strain Sino-American relations.[108] The People's Daily, an organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, in an editorial used to denounce "what the most powerful force in the world is doing with perhaps the central infrastructure" and to praise Snowden for "mak[ing] the public aware that this force is acting in an unconstitutional manner and entirely contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."[109] Similarly, China Internet Information Center published a political cartoon depicting a rat dressed as a Statue of Liberty while grabbing at a Flag of China, and denounced the "one-sided" cyber attack accusations which the United States has "poured upon China".[110]

Several hundred Hong Kong residents gathered on June 15 to support Snowden and to voice their opposition to US surveillance policies.[111] Also on that date, a poll conducted in Hong Kong and reported in the South China Morning Post showed that half of the 509 respondents believed the Chinese government should not surrender Snowden to the United States if Washington raises such a request. According to the poll, 33 per cent of Hong Kong residents think of Snowden as a hero, 12.8 per cent described him as a traitor, 23 per cent described him as “something in between”, and the remainder said they could not comment.[112]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Ackerman, Spencer (June 10, 2013). "Edward Snowden failed in attempt to join US army's elite special forces unit". The Guardian. Retrieved June 10, 2013. The army did confirm Snowden's date of birth: June 21, 1983.
  2. ^ Edward Snowden, leaker of U.S. spy program documents, faces hard choices while in hiding - CBS News
  3. ^ "For Snowden, a Life of Ambition, Despite the Drifting". The New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  4. ^ "AP IMPACT: Snowden's life surrounded by spycraft". Associated Press. Retrieved June 15, 2013. Snowden mentioned that he had identified himself as a Buddhist in paperwork he filled out for the Army.
  5. ^ a b Gellman, Barton; Markon, Jerry (June 9, 2013). "Edward Snowden says motive behind leaks was to expose 'surveillance state'". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2013. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  6. ^ a b c Gellman, Barton; Blake, Aaron; Miller, Greg (June 9, 2013). "Edward Snowden comes forward as source of NSA leaks". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  7. ^ Smith, Matt (June 9, 2013). "NSA leaker comes forward, warns of agency's 'existential threat'". CNN. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Greenwald, Glenn; MacAskill, Ewen; Poitras, Laura (June 9, 2013). Written at Hong Kong. "Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations". The Guardian. London. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d Tracy, Connor (June 10, 2013). "What we know about NSA leaker Edward Snowden". NBC News.
  10. ^ Itkowitz, Colby; Sheehan, Daniel Patrick (June 10, 2013). "Edward Snowden's father, stepmother plan to make public statement". The Morning Call.
  11. ^ Toppo, Greg (June 10, 2013). "Former neighbor remembers Snowden as 'nice kid'". USA Today.
  12. ^ a b "Profile: Edward Snowden". BBC News. June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  13. ^ Leger, Donna Leinwand (June 9, 2013). "NSA contractor: 'I know I have done nothing wrong'". USA Today. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  14. ^ U.S. Fears Edward Snowden May Defect to China: Sources
  15. ^ Malkin, Bonnie (June 11, 2013). "Edward Snowden's girlfriend revealed to be former ballet dancer". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  16. ^ NSA leaker Edward Snowden’s online profile reveals silly, nerdy side of computer whiz
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