Edward Joseph "Ed"^[2][3] Snowden (/ˈɛdˌwərd ˈdʒoʊˌsɨf ˈsnoʊˌdən/, ED-wərd-JOH-siff-SNOH-dənn,^[2] born June 21, 1983) is an American computer specialist and a former CIA and NSA employee who has leaked details of several top-secret United States and British government mass surveillance programs to the press.^[4][5]

Based on information Snowden leaked to The Guardian^[6] in May 2013 while employed at NSA contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, the British newspaper published a series of exposés that revealed programs such as the interception of U.S. and European telephone metadata and the PRISM, XKeyscore, and Tempora Internet surveillance programs. Snowden's release of NSA material was called the most significant leak in U.S. history by Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg.^[7][8][9]

On June 14, 2013, United States federal prosecutors charged Snowden with espionage and theft of government property.^[10][11][12] Snowden had left the United States prior to the publication of his disclosures, first to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he received a temporary asylum ( renewable on an annual basis while he remains in Russia ) and now resides at an undisclosed location.

Snowden has been a subject of controversy: he has been variously called a hero,^[13][14] a whistleblower,^{[15][16][17][18]} a dissident,^[19] a traitor,^[20][21] and a patriot.^[22][23] There is confusion on exactly what Snowden's status is, and whether he truly qualifies as a whistleblower, which commonly is understood as a person who exposes wrongdoing. By avoiding labeling Snowden a whistleblower, some members of the media attempt to avoid making a value judgement on his actions. Tom Kent, the standards editor for the Associated Press, informed AP staff to refer to Snowden as a "leaker", not a "whistleblower".^[24] However, David K. Colapinto of the National Whistleblower Center says that Snowden's revelations of the NSA routinely lying to Congress qualifies his behavior as "classic whistle blowing".^[25][26]

Snowden has defended his leaks as an effort "to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them."^[27] Some U.S. officials condemned his actions as having done "grave damage" to the U.S. intelligence capabilities while others, such as former president Jimmy Carter, have applauded his actions.^[28][29] Meanwhile, the media disclosures have renewed debates both inside and outside the United States over mass surveillance, government secrecy, and the balance between national security and information privacy.