Blackfiles: About Edward Snowden and What to Do Next

Blackfiles: About Edward Snowden and What to Do Next
Edward Snowden Warned Us Were You Listening?

Why Edward Snowden deserves not only a presidential pardon, but a hero's welcome home.

Twelve years after facilitating the largest national security leak in American history, Edward Snowden remains exiled in Russia, unable to set foot on U.S. soil without losing his freedom.

A bipartisan consensus denouncing Snowden as a criminal traitor quickly formed in Washington, D.C., following the revelation of his identity in 2013: "I don't think Mr. Snowden was a patriot," President Barack Obama said at a press conference. Hillary Clinton dismissed him as "a lawbreaker," House Speaker John Boehner called him a "traitor," Rep. Mike Pompeo (R–Kan.)—later CIA director—called for his execution.

The U.S. government was illegally surveilling its own citizens, and because of decisions made by Congress and the Bush and Obama administrations after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, America was on track to become an Orwellian police state.

This hasn't happened yet thanks in large part to Edward Snowden, who deserves not only a presidential pardon, but a hero's welcome home.

Producer: Zach Weissmueller
Editor: John Osterhoudt
Graphics: Lex Villena

In 2013, a 29-year-old IT contractor exposed the world’s most powerful spy agency. Edward Snowden leaked proof that the NSA was secretly collecting every American’s phone records, tapping global internet cables, and even lying to Congress. His revelations triggered global outrage, forced reforms, and made him a fugitive in Russia. This is the true story of how one man outsmarted the NSA and changed the debate over privacy forever.

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Read the Book

Google AI Overview

Permanent Record, published in 2019, is the memoir of former CIA officer and NSA contractor Edward Snowden, in which he recounts his childhood, career in intelligence, and why he ultimately decided to leak classified information. The book details his role in building the U.S. government's mass surveillance system and his reasons for exposing it to the world.

Publication and legal issues
Release date: Permanent Record was published on September 17, 2019, by Metropolitan Books.

Government lawsuit: The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Snowden the day it was released, alleging that the book violates non-disclosure agreements he signed with the CIA and NSA. The government claimed Snowden published the book without submitting it for review, a standard procedure for former intelligence officers.

Financial forfeiture: Though the lawsuit did not prevent publication, the government sought to forfeit all proceeds from the book. A federal court later ruled in the government's favor, ordering Snowden to forfeit any income he receives from the book and related speaking fees.

Content and themes
Building the surveillance system: Snowden provides a first-person account of his time working within the intelligence community, describing how he helped develop and implement the infrastructure for mass digital surveillance.

Moral and ethical awakening: The memoir traces Snowden's personal and ethical evolution from a loyal government employee to a whistleblower. It explains his growing disillusionment with the U.S. government's surveillance programs, which he believed overstepped ethical boundaries and constitutional protections.

The decision to leak: The book offers an intimate look into the meticulous and nerve-wracking process that led to the 2013 leaks in Hong Kong. It details his motivation for leaking the classified information to journalists Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras.

Exile and reflection: Permanent Record also touches on his life in exile in Moscow, reflecting on the consequences of his actions and the state of privacy in the digital age. He addresses the "nothing to hide" argument, explaining why privacy is important for all citizens.

Reception
Critical praise: Reviewers have praised Permanent Record for its compelling storytelling, technical insight, and passionate defense of privacy rights. The book was described as a "riveting blend of spycraft" and a "brilliant ethical treatise".
Mixed reviews: Some reviews acknowledged the book's importance while noting that Snowden does not reveal new classified information. The book has been polarizing, much like Snowden himself.

Young Readers Edition: A version adapted for younger readers was published in 2021, featuring a new afterword on digital security for the next generation.

LIVE: Digital ID & the DEATH of Freedom—An URGENT Warning https://rumble.com/v6zvbzo-live-digital-id-and-the-death-of-freedoman-urgent-warning.html

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