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Edward Snowden was a former intelligence contractor at the CIA and National Security Agency (NSA). He worked in several different capacities for the agencies, mostly in IT security and ethical hacking. Snowden leaked to The Guardian newspaper large amounts of information on mass surveillance programs carried out by the U.S. and British governments.

Reactions to Snowden’s disclosures have been mixed, with people either condemning or applauding his actions. He faces two charges of espionage and one charge in connection with theft of government property.

Currently, Snowden resides in an undisclosed location in Russia, where he has been granted asylum. In a May 2014 televised interview with NBC's Brian Williams, Snowden answered questions about why he acted as a whistleblower, and whether he plans to return home.

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