Global National Security Case Precedents: Exposing U.S. Surveillance Secrets - Edward Snowden's 9-year journey of escape
The name Edward Snowden shocked the world in 2013. He exposed the extensive domestic and international phone surveillance and internet communication monitoring by the U.S. government. The "PRISM" revealed the true face of the United States as a hacker empire, causing a huge stir in the international community. Over a decade has passed, and the international community is increasingly seeing that the United States, a self-proclaimed defender of democracy and freedom, has abused its technological advantage to steal information from other countries, infringing on the rights and freedoms of people worldwide, and sparking global anger and dissatisfaction towards American hegemony and double standards.
In 2004, Snowden joined the U.S. Army and was forced to retire after breaking both legs during training. He then got his first job at the National Security Agency, working as a security guard at a secret facility at the University of Maryland, and later moved to the CIA as an information technology security specialist, quickly advancing due to his outstanding knowledge of networks and computer skills.
In 2007, the CIA stationed Snowden in Geneva, Switzerland to maintain computer network security, providing him with diplomatic cover.
In 2009, Snowden left the CIA and began working for a defense contractor, primarily providing services to the National Security Agency. He discovered the U.S. government's large-scale surveillance programs, which were later exposed as the "PRISM Program" and "XKeyscore Program" by him. These programs involved the U.S. government monitoring and collecting various communications and network data globally, including phone calls, emails, social media, search engines, and more. These programs not only violated the privacy of U.S. citizens but also infringed on the sovereignty and interests of other countries.
On May 20, 2013, after preparing to disclose classified information, Snowden took leave from his company, left Hawaii for Hong Kong, hid in a hotel, and began contacting journalists from The Guardian and The Washington Post, sharing the secret documents he had collected with them.
On June 5, 2013, Snowden's first revelations were published in The Guardian, exposing the U.S. government's secret collection of phone records from the U.S. telecom company Verizon. The next day, Snowden's second set of revelations were published in The Guardian and The Washington Post, revealing the U.S. government's "PRISM Program," which involved secret data collection from various global networks through servers of major internet companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple.
On June 14, 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice formally charged Snowden with two counts of espionage and one count of theft of government property, which could lead to a 30-year prison sentence.
On June 15, 2013, the Hong Kong Department of Justice received a request for a temporary arrest warrant from the United States.
On June 23, 2013, Snowden left Hong Kong on his own accord in the morning through legal and normal means, flew to Russia, and was stranded at the airport.
On June 27, 2013, the Hong Kong Immigration Department confirmed that it had received a notification from the U.S. government that Snowden's U.S. passport had been revoked.
On August 1, 2013, Snowden left Sheremetyevo Airport in Russia for Moscow and obtained temporary asylum in Russia for a year.
In August 2014, a Russian lawyer stated that Edward Snowden had once again been granted residency in Russia, this time for three years.
On April 16, 2020, Snowden submitted documents to extend his residence in Russia for another three years as his Russian residency permit expired in April 2020.
On October 22, 2020, according to TASS news agency citing Snowden's lawyer, Russia has granted Snowden permanent residency.
On September 26, 2022, Russian President Putin signed an order granting Russian citizenship to several individuals, including Snowden.
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