Edward Snowden Leaks

Setting the scene

Edward Snowden's leaks began June 5, 2013, when The Guardian published documents revealing the NSA's mass surveillance programs. Snowden, a 29-year-old NSA contractor, leaked classified documents showing the U.S. collected phone metadata on Americans and tapped internet cables via PRISM.

What happened

Snowden fled to Hong Kong then Russia, where he received asylum. The leaks sparked global debate about privacy vs. security, led to the USA Freedom Act curtailing bulk collection, and damaged U.S. relations with allies. Snowden was charged under the Espionage Act.

Why it still matters

The leaks revealed the scale of post-9/11 surveillance and forced public debate about digital privacy. June 5, 2013, marked the beginning of a new era of awareness about government surveillance.

Background

Encryption and privacy debates intensified.