Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden, born on June 21, 1983, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is a former intelligence contractor who became one of the most prominent whistleblowers in modern history. His actions sparked a global debate about government surveillance, privacy, and individual freedoms.

Snowden grew up in a family with a strong military background; his father served in the Coast Guard, and his mother worked for the federal court in Maryland. From a young age, Snowden showed an aptitude for computers and technology. He dropped out of high school but later earned his GED and studied computing at Anne Arundel Community College while working various jobs.

In 2003, Snowden enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Special Forces candidate but was discharged after breaking both legs during training. He then began working for various government agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), where he held positions as a security guard and later as a technical expert.

During his time at the NSA, Snowden became increasingly disillusioned with the agency's surveillance programs, which he believed violated the privacy rights of millions of people. In 2013, while working as a contractor for the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, Snowden made the decision to leak classified documents to journalists.

In June 2013, Snowden provided journalists Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras with thousands of classified documents detailing the NSA's extensive surveillance programs. The revelations, published in The Guardian and The Washington Post, exposed the agency's bulk collection of telephone metadata and internet communications, among other activities.

After leaking the documents, Snowden fled to Hong Kong, where he continued to work with journalists to publicize the information. Facing charges of espionage and theft of government property in the United States, Snowden sought asylum in several countries before being granted temporary asylum in Russia, where he has resided since August 2013.

Snowden's actions ignited a global debate about government surveillance and whistleblowing. While some consider him a hero for exposing government overreach and defending civil liberties, others view him as a traitor who endangered national security. Regardless of one's perspective, Snowden's disclosures have had a lasting impact on the world, prompting reforms to surveillance practices and shaping public discourse on privacy rights in the digital age. He has been very vocal on x ever since then

EARLY LIFE

From a young age, Snowden displayed an aptitude for technology and computers. He attended schools in Maryland, where he excelled academically. However, he dropped out of high school during his sophomore year, citing boredom with the traditional education system. Despite leaving formal education, Snowden continued to pursue his interest in computers and technology, largely through self-directed learning.

Snowden later earned his General Educational Development (GED) certificate and enrolled in computing courses at Anne Arundel Community College. During this time, he supported himself by working various jobs, including as a security guard and a computer security specialist.

In 2003, Snowden enlisted in the United States Army Reserve, hoping to join the Special Forces. However, his military career was cut short after he sustained injuries during training, breaking both of his legs. Following his discharge from the military, Snowden continued to pursue opportunities in the technology sector, eventually landing positions with various government agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).