This episode details the life and impact of Edward Snowden, a former intelligence contractor who gained notoriety for exposing global mass surveillance operations. The text traces his professional journey from the CIA and NSA to his eventual decision to leak classified documents to journalists in 2013. These disclosures revealed controversial programs like PRISM, which sparked international debates regarding the ethics of digital privacy and government overreach. Following his actions, the United States government filed criminal charges under the Espionage Act, leading to his journey through Hong Kong and his eventual asylum in Russia. The sources also explore the varied global reactions ...