Edward Snowden: A Hero

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In 2013, Edward Snowden rose to prominence after he released classified documents to the public regarding the existence of United States (US) government’s wide spread surveillance programs conducted through the National Security Agency (NSA). Snowden is an American computer expert, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) systems administrator and NSA subcontractor. On one hand, Snowden had been called a traitor and charged with violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and committing treason by the US government for leaking state secrets, whereas on the other, he has been hailed as a hero by many for his actions. He currently resides under temporary asylum in Russia and continues to speak about his work. He has brought the issue of whistleblowing