Edward Joseph Snowden is a former computer intelligence consultant from the United States who released highly sensitive material from the National Security Agency while working as an employee and subcontractor in 2013.
He was the source behind the NSA’s largest information leak in history describing his motivations, his uncertain future, and why he never planned to remain anonymous.
Edward Snowden, former CIA technical assistant and current employee of defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, is the man responsible for one of the most major disclosures in US political history. Snowden has spent the last four years working for the National Security Agency as an employee of numerous outside companies, including Booz Allen Hamilton and Dell.
In a note accompanying the first set of documents he provided, he wrote: “I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions,” but “I will be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers that rule the world that I love are revealed even for an instant.”
Despite his determination to be publicly unveiled, he repeatedly insisted that he wants to avoid the media spotlight. “I don’t want public attention because I don’t want the story to be about me. I want it to be about what the US government is doing.”
He does not fear the consequences of going public, he said, only that doing so will distract attention from the issues raised by his disclosures. “I know the media likes to personalise political debates, and I know the government will demonise me.”
Despite these fears, he remained hopeful his outing will not divert attention from the substance of his disclosures. “I really want the focus to be on these documents and the debate which I hope this will trigger among citizens around the globe about what kind of world we want to live in.” He added: “My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them.”
He has had “a very comfortable life” that included a salary of roughly $200,000, a girlfriend with whom he shared a home in Hawaii, a stable career, and a family he loves. “I’m willing to sacrifice all of that because I can’t in good conscience allow the US government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they’re secretly building.”
Even though he is residing in Russia after the scandal broke out. He even asked for asylum from many countries including India. However, no one wanted to take the wrath of a country like the united states. The only country that came forward to provide asylum was Russia.
Even though he was the one who brought the facts against NSA, he still follows NSA on Twitter and is the only account followed by him.
Recently he even tweeted Every day that I go on this website and scroll the broadcasted thoughts of famed intellectuals, icons, and official Washington, I leave with an uncomfortable suspicion that our species is regressing toward the animal—emotional, ignorant, violent, and distractible. Is it just me?
Every day that I go on this website and scroll the broadcasted thoughts of famed intellectuals, icons, and official Washington, I leave with an uncomfortable suspicion that our species is regressing toward the animal—emotional, ignorant, violent, and distractible.
Is it just me?
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) June 25, 2022
