A former US intelligence officer who provided the media with classified materials about the global surveillance of US and British intelligence services on the Internet, Edward Joseph Snowden was born on June 21, 1983 in Elizabeth City (North Carolina, USA).
His family later moved to Maryland.
Edward Snowden did not graduate from high school. In 1999-2005, he periodically studied at a local college. Snowden later passed tests certifying his knowledge at the level of high school (General Educational Development).
On August 1, 2013, an ex-CIA agent was granted temporary asylum in Russia for a period of one year, provided that he ceases his activities against the United States. After that it is Sheremetyevo Airport. Snowden claimed that he was going to Moscow.
In the summer of 2016, CNN reported that Edward Snowden was developing a model of a case for the iPhone 6 smartphone, which would completely block the transmission of the GPS signal and thereby avoid surveillance by intelligence services. He carried out this work in collaboration with American hacker Andrew Huang, who lived in Singapore.
At the end of December 2017, Snowden, allowing owners to remotely monitor the integrity of their home and property. The project is co-authored by the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
Edward Snowden was, among other things, a symbolic prize named after the German judge and prosecutor Fritz Bauer of the public organization "Humanistische Union" for civil courage (2014), and a (Ridenhour prize) in the nomination "for truth" (2014), an award from the International Foundation "For a Correct Lifestyle", also known as "
After some time June 30, 2013
Subsequently, Snowden July 16, 2013 August 1, 2019
In several countries around the world September 17, 2019
Edward Snowden in culture
Edward Snowden's family
18.09.2019
Edward Snowden
Edward Joseph Snowden
American technician
Special Agent
News and Events
A book by ex-NSA and CIA employee Edward Snowden has been published
In many countries around the world, sales of Edward Snowden's memoirs began on September 17, 2019. Its name Permanent Record can be translated as “Personal Matter”. The ex-employee of the US Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency in his book described how American intelligence agencies use electronic methods of tracking fellow citizens and foreigners, even heads of state, how he helped create this system and why he decided to flee the country and declassify this data. Snowden became famous for fleeing the United States in the summer of 2013 with secret documents about intelligence agencies' surveillance programs and handing them over to journalists. He first went to Hong Kong and then stayed at Sheremetyevo airport until Russia granted him asylum.
Edward Snowden was born on June 21, 1983 in Elizabeth City, USA. He spent his childhood and youth in his native town, where he received his secondary education. In 1999, he and his family moved to Maryland. He studied computer science at Anne Arundel College, but switched to distance learning for health reasons. However, he later received a master's degree from the University of Liverpool. In 2004, he began serving in the US Armed Forces as a reservist, from where he was discharged a few months after receiving a serious injury to both legs.
Snowden began his career at the National Security Agency guarding a secret facility at the University of Maryland. Received Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance. A few years later, he was recruited into the CIA and, under diplomatic cover, sent to Geneva as the US permanent representative to the United Nations. There, his responsibilities included ensuring the security of computer networks.
While working for American intelligence agencies, Edward Snowden became increasingly disillusioned with their activities. In 2009, the programmer left the CIA and began working for the National Security Agency consulting companies Dell and Booz Allen Hamilton, performing the duties of an external contractor.
Snowden's work to declassify crimes of American intelligence agencies began in 2013. Then the former CIA and National Security Agency agent contacted film producer Laura Poitras, American journalist Glenn Greenwald and publicist Barton Gellman, who told them that he was ready to provide classified information. Communication took place through encrypted e-mail messages, through which the IT specialist leaked two hundred thousand secret documents to journalists. After this, a scandal broke out, and the announced incriminating evidence received the effect of a thermonuclear bomb in the press.
Edward Snowden's revelations contained facts about surveillance by US intelligence agencies of the population in 60 countries and 35 government departments across Europe. The programmer declassified information about the PRISM program, with the help of which special agents conducted mass surveillance of negotiations between Americans and foreign citizens via the Internet and mobile communications. The program allowed the National Security Agency to listen to voice and video chats, view email and photos, track transferred files and possess all the information of social network users.
Another sensational revelation by Snowden was the secret ruling of the FISC court, according to which the largest cellular operator Verizon is obliged to daily transfer to the NSA the metadata of all calls made within the United States. In addition, it became known about the existence of the Tempora tracking program, which intercepts Internet traffic and telephone conversations, and about integrated iPhone software that allows you to monitor user actions.
One of Edward's most high-profile revelations was the disclosure of the fact that US intelligence intercepted telephone conversations of foreign politicians and officials participating in the G20 summit held in London in 2009. Victims of the US National Security Agency's misconduct include many prominent politicians from around the world. According to the Pentagon, the programmer is in possession of 1.7 million classified documents, most of which relate to vital information about the operations of the US Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force.
After deciding to reveal his identity, Edward Snowden, realizing that he would have to pay dearly for this act, went on the run. At first he hid in Hong Kong, where he planned to obtain political asylum. After the American authorities announced an official accusation of theft and disclosure of secret state secrets, the spy, for unknown reasons, appeared in Moscow at the Sheremetyevo airport, but, without a Russian visa, was forced to remain in the transit zone of the airport.
After some time June 30, 2013 asked to be granted political asylum in Russia, and the very next day, Russian President Vladimir Putin allowed the programmer to remain in the country on the condition that the subversive work of the American intelligence services ceased. Snowden was not satisfied with the conditions and, having sent requests for political asylum to more than 20 states, received positive responses from Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Subsequently, Snowden July 16, 2013 officially applied to the Federal Migration Service of Russia with a request for temporary asylum on the territory of the Russian Federation. A former NSA employee received a certificate August 1, 2019 and on the same day crossed the border, leaving the transit zone of Terminal E of Sheremetyevo Airport.
The programmer has repeatedly stated that he is ready to move to the United States, subject to an open trial with a jury present at the trial. But no head of state has yet given Snowden such guarantees. In 2018, the American stopped communicating with the public for six months. In the fall, with his participation, a video conference took place with the University of Management of the Austrian city of Innsbruck. Edward said that he manages the American Foundation for the Defense of Freedom of Journalists. As part of its activities, it develops a program that protects information sources from external threats.
In several countries around the world September 17, 2019 Sales of Edward Snowden's memoirs have begun. Its name Permanent Record can be translated as “Personal Matter”. The ex-NSA employee in his book told how American intelligence agencies use electronic methods of tracking fellow citizens and foreigners, even heads of foreign states, how he helped create this system and why he decided to flee the country and declassify this data.
Edward Snowden in culture
A number of games for mobile devices have been created based on events from Snowden's life.
On September 29, 2014, the Russian Channel One premiered the multi-part feature film “Where the Motherland Begins” directed by Rauf Kubaev, the first frames of which show an episode about a secret flight to Russia in order to avoid the arrest of ex-CIA officer James Snow, whose prototype was Edward Snowden. The role of James Snow in the film was played by aspiring Lithuanian actor Arnas Fedaravičius.
On October 10, 2014, the two-hour documentary film Citizenfour premiered in New York. Snowden's Truth" by Laura Poitras, dedicated to Edward Snowden. Parts of this film are available for viewing on the website of The New Yorker magazine. The film won several prestigious film awards, including BAFTA, Sputnik and Oscar. In Russia, in cinemas, the film became the highest-grossing non-fiction film of 2015
A species of decapod crayfish, Cherax snowden, described by German zoologists in 2015, was named in honor of Edward Snowden for his contribution to the defense of freedom of speech.
On October 5, 2015, Peter Taylor's film Edward Snowden: Spies and the Law premiered on the BBC's Panorama program.
In 2016, the film “Snowden” was released. To write the script, American film director Oliver Stone acquired the rights to film the books by lawyer Anatoly Kucherena “The Time of the Octopus” and Guardian newspaper journalist Luke Harding’s “The Snowden File: The Story of the Most Wanted Man in the World.” The role of Snowden was played by American actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Snowden himself also took part in the filming of the film, playing himself in the final episode, for which he came to Moscow for one day
Edward Snowden's family
Father - Lonnie Snowden, served in the US Coast Guard, retired since 2009
Mother - Elizabeth Snowden, lawyer, works in federal court in Baltimore
Older sister - Jessica Snowden, works at the Federal Judicial Center
Wife: Lindsay Mills. Married since 2017
Edward Snowden is an American technical assistant, known throughout the world for publishing a number of sensational revelations by US intelligence agencies regarding mass surveillance of citizens. Since 2013, his name has appeared on the front pages of the media, as information about violations of the rights and freedoms of millions of Americans and Europeans by the National Security Agency (NSA) amazed the world community.
Recently, Snowden has been living in Russia, where he was granted political asylum, since the United States put him on the international wanted list, charging him in absentia with theft and disclosure of state secrets, which is regarded as a threat to the country's security.
Childhood and youth
Edward Snowden was born on June 21, 1983 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. His parents, coast guard Lonnie and lawyer Elizabeth Snowden, are divorced. Edward is the youngest child in the family; he has an older sister, Jessica, who works as a lawyer at the Federal Judicial Center in Washington.
Snowden spent his childhood and youth in his hometown, where the future CIA and NSA employee received his secondary education. In 1999, Snowden's family moved to Maryland. There Edward entered Anne Arundel College, where he took preparatory courses for entering the university.
However, due to health reasons, he never completed the course of study - he had to continue his studies remotely, which did not prevent Snowden from receiving a master's degree from the University of Liverpool in 2011.
In 2004, Edward Snowden joined the US Armed Forces as a reservist, from where he was discharged a few months after receiving serious injuries to both legs. From that moment on, Snowden’s biography was directly related to computer science, programming and IT technologies, in which the guy showed professionalism and special talent, despite the lack of formal confirmation of the specialist’s qualifications.
Service in the CIA
Edward Snowden's rise up the career ladder was confident and rapid. The specialist received his first professional skills at the NSA, working in the security structure of a secret facility at the University of Maryland. A few years later, Snowden was hired by the CIA and, under diplomatic cover, was sent to Geneva as the US permanent representative to the UN. There, his responsibilities included ensuring the security of computer networks. According to Edward, working in Switzerland opened his eyes to the fact that he is a special link in the US intelligence services, bringing people more harm than good.
In 2009, the programmer left the CIA and began working for the NSA consulting companies Dell and Booz Allen Hamilton, performing the duties of an external contractor.
Snowden did not approve of the activities of the US National Security Agency, in the future ridding the American public of illusions about the lawful actions of the government in relation to the whole world. In this regard, in 2013, an NSA special agent decided to act at the behest of his heart and reveal to people secret information exposing American intelligence agencies in mass surveillance of people.
Snowden has repeatedly noted that he wanted to declassify the unlawful actions of the NSA and CIA back in 2008, but hoped that when he came to power the situation in the US secret services would change. It soon became obvious to the programmer that the new US President was continuing the policies of his predecessors and did not intend to interfere with the activities of the “spies.”
Revelations and criminal prosecutions
Snowden's work to declassify crimes of American intelligence agencies began in 2013. Then the former CIA and NSA agent contacted film producer Laura Poitras, American journalist Glenn Greenwald and publicist Barton Gellman, who told them that he was ready to provide classified information.
Snowden's communication took place through encrypted e-mail messages, through which the IT specialist leaked 200 thousand secret documents to journalists. Their secrecy status exceeded previously published materials on WikiLeaks regarding the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. After this, a scandal broke out, and the announced incriminating evidence received the effect of a thermonuclear bomb in the press. In the future, the founder of WikiLeaks will state that, thanks to an international non-profit organization, Snowden remains free.
Edward Snowden's revelations contained facts about surveillance by US intelligence agencies of the population in 60 countries and 35 government departments across Europe. The programmer declassified information about the PRISM program, with the help of which special agents conducted mass surveillance of negotiations between Americans and foreign citizens via the Internet and mobile communications.
According to Edward, the PRISM program allowed the NSA to listen to voice and video chats, view email and photos, track transferred files and have all the information of social network users. A large number of popular services participated in this program: Microsoft (Hotmail), Facebook, Google (Gmail), Skype, Yahoo!, AOL, YouTube, Apple and Paltalk.
Another sensational revelation by Snowden was the secret ruling of the FISC court, according to which the largest cellular operator Verizon is obliged to daily transfer to the NSA the metadata of all calls made within the United States. Against the backdrop of this ruling, journalists suggested that other American cellular operators could also be involved in such obligations.
In addition, thanks to Snowden, it became known about the existence of the Tempora tracking program, which intercepts Internet traffic and telephone conversations, and about integrated iPhone software that allows you to monitor user actions.
One of Snowden's most resonant revelations was the disclosure of the fact that US intelligence officers intercepted telephone conversations of foreign politicians and officials participating in the G20 summit held in London in 2009. Victims of the US NSA's misconduct include many well-known politicians from around the world.
According to the Pentagon, Snowden is in possession of 1.7 million classified documents, most of which relate to vital information about the operations of the US Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. This information, according to journalists, will be gradually disclosed with the aim of harming the national interests of the United States and the NSA.
After deciding to reveal his identity, Edward Snowden, realizing that he would have to pay dearly for this act, went on the run.
At first, the programmer hid in Hong Kong, where he planned to obtain political asylum. After the announcement of official charges by the American authorities of theft and disclosure of secret state secrets, which happened on the day of Edward’s 30th birthday, the spy, for unknown reasons, appeared in Moscow at Sheremetyevo airport, but, not having a Russian visa, was forced to remain in the transit zone of the airport .
According to media reports, in Russia the programmer was met by a car with Venezuelan diplomatic license plates, which took Snowden away in an unknown direction. Presumably, Edward intended to go to South America through Moscow.
On June 30, 2013, he asked to be granted political asylum in Russia, and the very next day the President of the Russian Federation allowed the programmer to remain in the country on the condition that he stop the subversive work of the American intelligence services.
At the same time, Edward Snowden submitted a petition to the American authorities for a pardon, citing the fact that he did not observe anything bad or illegal in his actions. American authorities have a conflicting attitude towards Snowden's revelations, believing that the programmer is obliged to stand trial because he betrayed US state secrets. American intelligence officers consider the act of the former CIA and NSA employee to be harsh and illegal, causing irreparable damage to the US intelligence service.
In turn, the European Union is categorical about the issue of the prosecution of Snowden. The European Parliament has repeatedly called on the EU to refuse to impose a sentence on the American and to provide him with protection, which would make it impossible for him to be extradited to the United States or returned by a third party.
In July 2016, US CIA Director John Brennan said that Snowden should return to the US and face trial. Then the head of American foreign intelligence did not support the position of former US Attorney General Eric Holder, who called Snowden’s activities a “service to the public.” The head of the CIA does not believe that thanks to Edward, a discussion of socially significant issues has begun in the country.
In 2016, a former employee of the National Security Agency spoke in an interview with the Financial Times about his life in the Russian capital. Snowden admitted that his knowledge of the Russian language is only enough to place an order at a restaurant. Snowden added that he lives on Eastern Time and spends most of his time on the Internet, but "this has always been his life."
Snowden has repeatedly expressed his opinion regarding Russian anti-terrorism laws. A former American intelligence officer criticized in his microblog on the social network "Twitter" a package of laws (“package”) that introduce life imprisonment for international terrorism and oblige telecom operators, instant messengers and social networks to store information about the facts of conversations and correspondence of users and their content.
“Mass surveillance doesn’t work. This law takes away money and freedom from every Russian without improving security. You shouldn’t sign it,” Snowden notes.
In 2017, the authorities of many countries around the world continue to invite the former employee of the American intelligence services to speak out on a number of issues, as well as to give lectures.
Movies
“The most wanted man in the world,” Edward Snowden, after the publication and disclosure of classified information from American intelligence agencies, became one of the main characters for writers and filmmakers who thought of making him part of their creations. He was the main subject of the documentary "Citizenfour", directed by Laura Poitras based on interviews with a former CIA and NSA employee.
The film about Edward Snowden won the prestigious Oscar as the best documentary film with a bold plot, which from the first to the last seconds carries sensational and revealing information.
In 2016, the world saw a new project by the famous director called “Snowden”, dedicated to the story of a former IT specialist of the US intelligence services hiding from the evil American government. The main roles in the film were played by actors, and.
Personal life
The personal life of Edward Snowden, after his high-profile revelations, due to the precautions taken, became a secret to society. He once mentioned his family life in passing - in 2013 he announced that he had a wife and children. It is known that since 2009, his girlfriend was dancer Lindsay Mills, with whom he lived in a civil marriage on the Hawaiian island of Waipahu.
There were rumors that the couple broke up in 2013. But director Oliver Stone, the author of the film about Snowden, denied this information. The American spy still lives with his beloved in Russia. Evidence of this fact is provided by their joint photos that appear on Lindsay’s personal Instagram account.
In 2013, a former employee of the Russian intelligence services proposed that Edward Snowden marry her. She wrote about this on Twitter, but users called this step a PR move on her part.
According to journalists who interviewed Edward in Hong Kong, Snowden remains a good-natured and intelligent person, in whose character there are notes of romance and idealism. The programmer leads a quiet and healthy lifestyle, practices Buddhism, spends a lot of time at the computer and enjoys reading books on Russian history. At the same time, the NSA and CIA “whistleblower” adheres to a vegetarian diet, does not drink coffee or drink alcohol.
Edward Snowden now
The programmer has repeatedly stated that he is ready to move to the United States, subject to an open trial with a jury present at the trial. But no head of state has yet given Snowden such guarantees. In 2017, journalists suggested that Moscow would no longer hide Edward on Russian territory, but would hand him over to the new US President, but the programmer again managed to renew his residence permit.
In 2018, the American stopped communicating with the public for six months. In the fall, with his participation, a video conference took place with the University of Management of the Austrian city of Innsbruck. Edward said that he now manages the American Foundation for the Defense of Freedom of Journalists.
As part of his activities, Snowden is developing a program to protect information sources from external threats. According to the former CIA officer, he is primarily concerned with the problems of American society, which he continues to struggle with. At the same time, Edward does not stop criticizing the Russian government and reforms.
In November, Snowden gave a lecture to senior Mossad officials, presenting evidence of NSA infiltration into Israeli intelligence operations via videoconference. Snowden has not yet provided information about new performances in 2019, but it is assumed that the programmer will continue to expose American intelligence services.
Quotes
Snowden himself says this about his revelations:
“I have carefully reviewed each document to ensure that its release would serve the legitimate interests of the public. There are documents of all types that would have great consequences if released, but I do not release them because my goal is openness, not hurting people."
Family
Edward Snowden was born on June 21, 1983 in Elizabeth City. Lonnie Snowden, his father, worked (until 2009) in the Coast Guard, and his mother, Elizabeth, was a lawyer (still works in court). In addition to Edward, the family had a daughter, his older sister, whose name is Jessica.Education of Edward Snowden
In 1999, Edward Snowden and his parents moved to Ellicott City in Maryland. Edward took courses at one of the colleges in order to obtain the required number of points to obtain a certificate (High school diploma). This document in the USA is required for admission to university. It should be noted that Edward did not complete his college course.He received his higher education in absentia much later, already in 2011.
Edward Snowden's work for the government
In 2003, the guy went to serve in the army. However, it did not last long. During the exercise, Snowden managed to break both legs. After the injury, the medical commission decided to disqualify the fighter.After the army, Snowden began his career. He got his first job at the National Security Agency. His tasks included guarding one of the NSA facilities at the University of Maryland.
Despite his formal lack of qualifications, his professional skills in the IT field allowed him to quickly climb the career ladder in intelligence. In 2007, Snowden received a position in the CIA and went under diplomatic cover to the Swiss capital, Geneva.
According to Snowden himself, it was his close acquaintance with the methods of work of the CIA in Geneva that dissuaded him from the fact that he was doing the right thing. He realized that he was “part of something that was doing more harm than good.”
The young idealist wanted to declassify information about violations of the law by the intelligence services much earlier, but had high hopes that the situation would change with the election of Obama. However, it soon became obvious that the new president was continuing the policies of his predecessors. Edward leaves the CIA and in 2009 begins working for the NSA as an employee of external contractors such as Dell and Booz AllenHamilton.
Exposure on behalf of Edward Snowden: chronology of events
He began working on the possibility of declassifying information about crimes of American intelligence services back in January 2013. Then he began contacting Laura Poitras (one of the founders of the Freedom of the Press Foundation), journalist Glenn Greenwald (The Guardian) and publicist Barton Gellman (Washington Post).Edward Snowden: interview BBC Russian
On May 20, 2013, Snowden took a leave of absence, citing the need to treat an illness, and flew to Hong Kong. This is where he gave some of the information to trusted journalists. However, there is still some time left before all the cards are revealed.
On June 6, he sent a message to Gelman that the police had come to his home in Hawaii. The Guardian and Washington Post newspapers, at the request of Edward himself, immediately published information about the PRISM total surveillance system on their pages.
On June 9, Edward Snowden met with journalists in Hong Kong. It was then that it became known that it was he who staged the loud revelation. According to Edward himself, he did not plan to go into hiding because he did not believe that he had done anything wrong. However, on June 10, Snowden went on the run.
Ten days later he turned 30 years old. It was on this day that the United States formally charged Snowden. On June 22, an appeal was made to the Hong Kong authorities with a demand to detain and extradite Snowden. The authorities of the Asian country responded with a gentle refusal. Formally, Snowden's detention was denied due to inaccurate wording in the extradition request.
Who is behind Edward Snowden?
The next day, information appeared in the media about the arrival of the now disgraced American in Russia. This caused a real stir among journalists who flooded Sheremetyevo. Without a visa, Snowden was forced to remain in the airport transit area.
On June 30, he sent an official request to the Russian Foreign Ministry, asking to be granted political asylum. In addition, about 20 similar requests were sent to different countries. A positive response was given by Nicaragua, Venezuela and Bolivia.
On August 1, he received a certificate of temporary asylum in Russia for a period of one year.
On October 31, it became known that Snowden was able to find a job in Russia - he will provide technical support to the Internet portal.
In November of the same year, he submitted a petition for pardon to the authorities of his country.
Personal life of Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden can be described as a romantic and an idealist. Journalists who interviewed him in Hong Kong describe him as quiet, good-natured, intelligent and modest.He explains all his behavior as a responsibility to humanity and believes that everyone needs to act before it is too late.
For a long time, Snowden dated dancer Lindsay Mills. The young couple planned to get married; in the spring of 2013 they lived together in Hawaii, on the island of Waipahu.
Snowden's disappearance came as a surprise even to his significant other. Lindsay was having a hard time with the breakup. In her blog, the girl wrote that after Edward's sudden disappearance, her "world opened and then closed," leaving her "lost at sea without a compass."
Without a doubt, Edward is very worried about his loved ones, worried about their safety. According to him, he can no longer communicate closely with anyone, since the authorities of his country can be cruel to those people who know him. In October 2013, he managed to meet with his father, who specially came to Russia to visit his son.