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Edward Snowden was given asylum in Russia after leaking secret surveillance operation files

Snowden seeks Russian passport for sake of future son

US whistleblower Edward Snowden and his wife are applying for Russian citizenship in order not to be separated from their future son in an era of pandemics and closed borders, he said.

World • 02 Nov 20

The NSA's mass surveillance of telephone records came to light when Edward Snowden blew the whistle

NSA mass phone data collection deemed illegal

Seven years after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the mass surveillance of Americans' telephone records, a US appeals court has found the programme was unlawful.

US • 03 Sep 20

Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange - central figures in the WikiLeaks story

Five things to know about WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks has been making headlines for more than a decade by releasing millions of classified documents, embarrassing governments while also raising fears that its activities may have put lives in danger.

World • 11 Apr 19

Edward Snowden issued his surveillance warning via video link from Moscow

Edward Snowden warns Israelis of surveillance dangers

The US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden has urged Israelis to be on guard against both government and private surveillance.

World • 07 Nov 18

Edward Snowden downloaded secret files when he worked as a contractor at the CIA and National Security Agency

Britain moves spies as Russia cracks Snowden files

Britain has been forced to remove some of its spies after Russia and China accessed the top-secret raft of documents taken by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, British media have reported.

News • 14 Jun 15

The existence of the programme was revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden

US court rules NSA bulk data sweep illegal

A US appeals court has ruled that the National Security Agency's massive collection of phone records of Americans is illegal, saying it exceeds the scope of what Congress authorised.

World • 07 May 15

Edward Snowden's lawyer said it would allow him to move about freely and travel abroad

Snowden gets three-year Russian residence permit

Fugitive US intelligence agent Edward Snowden has been granted a three-year residence permit in Russia, his Russian lawyer said at a press conference this morning.

News • 07 Aug 14

Edward Snowden told NBC News that he is 'not a spy'

Snowden denies giving information to Russia

Former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has said he is not under the control of Russia's government and had given Moscow no intelligence documents after nearly a year of asylum there.

News • 29 May 14

Edward Snowden rejected comments by critics that he was a low-level analyst

Edward Snowden says he was trained 'as a spy'

Former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked details of massive US intelligence-gathering programs, has said he "was trained as a spy" and had worked undercover overseas for US government agencies.

News • 28 May 14

Mr Snowden said the prize was a "vindication for everyone who believes that the public has a role in government".

Pulitzer Prize awarded for Edward Snowden coverage

The Guardian and The Washington Post have shared the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for journalism for their reporting on secret surveillance by the National Security Agency.

News • 14 Apr 14

The system allows the agency to review conversations up to a month after they take place

NSA can record 100% of phone calls - report

The National Security Agency has developed a surveillance system that can record 100% of a foreign country's telephone calls, The Washington Post reported.

News • 19 Mar 14

Still images were reportedly collected from Yahoo webcam chats

UK spy agency 'harvested' webcam images

British spy agency GCHQ has reportedly harvested webcam images, including sexually explicit material, of millions of internet users.

News • 27 Feb 14

Barack Obama said reforms will give greater transparency

Obama announces new NSA guidelines

US President Barack Obama has announced long-awaited reforms of NSA surveillance techniques.

News • 18 Jan 14

The secret NSA database stores information from text messages for future use

NSA collects millions of global text messages

America's National Security Agency has collected almost 200 million text messages a day from across the globe according to the latest leak from former US spy Edward Snowden.

News • 16 Jan 14

Edward Snowden's message is an alternative to that of Britain's Queen Elizabeth

Snowden calls for privacy in Christmas message

US whistleblower Edward Snowden has delivered a Christmas message on British television.

News • 25 Dec 13

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden has welcomed the decision

US judge rules NSA likely to be unconstitutional

A US judge has ruled that the gathering of phone records by the National Security Agency is likely to be unlawful, raising “serious doubts” about the value of the NSA’s counter-terrorism programme.

News • 17 Dec 13

Details of the NSA programme were revealed following leaks by Edward Snowden

US judge says NSA programme may be unlawful

The US government's collection of massive amounts of data about telephone calls is likely unlawful, a judge there has ruled.

News • 16 Dec 13

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said it was a step Indonesia must take

Indonesia angered by claims of spying by Australia

Indonesia has frozen a broad range of cooperation with Australia today after reports that its neighbour had tried to eavesdrop on mobile phone conversations of top Indonesian officials.

News • 20 Nov 13

The Berlin flag flies next to a white structure that, according to media reports, contains sophisticated electronic surveillance equipment and stands on top of the British embassy

Germany summons British ambassador over spy claims

Britain's ambassador in Berlin was summoned by the German foreign ministry following reports that the embassy was used as a secret listening post.

News • 05 Nov 13

Edward Snowden said debate about mass surveillance showed his revelations were helping to bring about change

Snowden says reaction to leaks justifies actions

Fugitive US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has said calls for more oversight of government intelligence agencies show he was justified in revealing the methods and targets of the US secret service.

News • 03 Nov 13

Germany and France have been the most vocal in protesting about US mass surveillance of European communication networks revealed by Mr Snowden since June

Europe running spy schemes too: British newspaper

Britain's Guardian newspaper has reported that Spy agencies across Western Europe are working together on mass surveillance of Internet and phone traffic.

News • 02 Nov 13

Google and Yahoo constantly send data over leased and shared or exclusive international fibre-optic telecommunication lines as they sync information

NSA accused of intercepting data centres' traffic

The US Justice Department has joined a lawsuit filed against the firm that vetted Edward Snowden who leaked documents about US spying efforts.

News • 31 Oct 13

New allegations suggest Angela Merkel's phone was being bugged since 2002

US may have bugged Merkel's phone since 2002

The US may have bugged Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone for more than 10 years, according to German news reports.

News • 27 Oct 13

Latest revelations in German media from Edward Snowden files include US phone-tapping of Chancellor Merkel's private mobile

Brazil and Germany prepare UN motion on spying

Brazil and Germany are preparing a resolution for the United Nations General Assembly that would demand an end to excessive spying and invasion of privacy.

News • 26 Oct 13

French President Francois Hollande talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel

France and Germany want US spying agreement

France and Germany have called for an agreement with the United States by the end of the year to try to resolve a dispute over spying.

News • 25 Oct 13