Ten years after his revelations shook the world, Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who exposed mass surveillance programs, remains in exile. But Where Is Edward Snowden Now and what are his perspectives a decade later? Living in Russia, Snowden has offered a stark warning: surveillance technology today dwarfs what he revealed in 2013, making past intrusions seem like “child’s play.”
In a recent interview marking the 10th anniversary of his disclosures concerning the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the UK’s GCHQ, Snowden reflected on the impact of his actions and the current state of digital privacy. Despite the personal cost of his whistleblowing, Snowden expressed no regrets, pointing to positive changes spurred by his leaks, particularly in the realm of encryption technology.
However, Snowden voices deep concern about the escalating encroachment on privacy in both the physical and digital spheres. “Technology has grown to be enormously influential,” Snowden stated. Comparing today’s technological landscape to that of 2013, he emphasized the exponential advancement of surveillance capabilities. The worry extends beyond governmental overreach and Big Tech influence, encompassing commercially available video surveillance, facial recognition systems, artificial intelligence, and sophisticated spyware like Pegasus, infamously used to target journalists and dissidents.
Looking back at the climate before his revelations, Snowden noted a misplaced trust. “We trusted the government not to screw us. But they did. We trusted the tech companies not to take advantage of us. But they did. That is going to happen again, because that is the nature of power.” This sentiment underscores his belief that constant vigilance is necessary to safeguard privacy against powerful institutions.
Since 2013, Snowden’s location has been Russia, having initially fled to Hong Kong before seeking asylum. This exile in Russia has drawn criticism, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Snowden’s acquisition of Russian citizenship in 2022. Critics argue his refuge in Russia undermines his credibility as a privacy advocate. Yet, for Snowden, Russia appears to be the only viable alternative to facing imprisonment in the United States.
Despite the controversies surrounding his current residency and citizenship, Snowden remains focused on the broader implications of unchecked surveillance. He maintains that his actions were justified and necessary, stating, “I have no regrets.”
Over recent years, Snowden has intentionally reduced his public appearances, stepping back from frequent speeches, press engagements, and active social media presence. This shift is partly attributed to family life; Snowden and his wife are raising two young children. However, he has sustained contact with the journalists who initially helped bring his revelations to light in Hong Kong, indicating his continued engagement with the issues he brought to the forefront.
One significant positive outcome Snowden identifies from the 2013 leaks is the widespread adoption of end-to-end encryption. The exposure of Big Tech companies’ data sharing with the NSA led to considerable embarrassment and subsequent anger when it was revealed that the NSA was accessing data through backdoors, even with company cooperation. This spurred tech companies to rapidly implement end-to-end encryption, a technology Snowden describes as “a pipe dream in 2013.” He notes that a decade ago, a vast amount of internet traffic was unencrypted, whereas now, encrypted communication is the norm.
Despite this progress in encryption, Snowden cautions against complacency. He believes that the fight for privacy is an ongoing, continuous process, extending beyond immediate victories. “The idea that after the revelations in 2013 there would be rainbows and unicorns the next day is not realistic. It is an ongoing process. And we will have to be working at it for the rest of our lives and our children’s lives and beyond.”
Intelligence agencies in the US and UK acknowledge the public debate on privacy initiated by Snowden’s disclosures as beneficial. However, they maintain that the damage to their operational capabilities outweighs any positives, citing the disruption of intelligence operations. They also argue that the focus on NSA and GCHQ activities overlooked similar actions by countries like Russia and China.
Snowden refutes the claims of significant damage and emphasizes that criticisms of Western surveillance did not imply an endorsement of other nations’ practices. He points out the lack of concrete evidence to support claims of lasting damage to intelligence operations, stating, “Disruption? Sure, that is plausible,” but questions the assertion of severe, irreparable harm.
In conclusion, where is Edward Snowden now? He is in Russia, a decade into his exile, still a prominent voice in the ongoing debate about digital privacy and government surveillance. While his location and circumstances are debated, his warnings about the ever-increasing sophistication and intrusiveness of surveillance technologies remain highly relevant and continue to resonate globally.
