Georgetown Welcomes Edward Snowden (Via Skype)

Former CIA employee and NSA government contractor Edward Snowden, who is currently in exile in Russia, received a warm welcome from the Georgetown University Lecture Fund through Skype. The webcast with the polemic figure took place in the Georgetown’s Lohrfink Auditorium before an eager audience. Snowden made headlines in May 2013 when he leaked details of a sizable internet and phone surveillance program run by the U.S. intelligence community. He leaked an estimated 50,000 to 200,000 NSA documents. Snowden was charged with theft of government property and communication of classified information following the documents’ release.

Undeniably, Snowden influenced American citizens’ thoughts about national security and data collection and perpetuated both a political and cultural dialogue. The controversy around Snowden has even been made into an an off-Broadway play called Privacy, starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Mainly, however, Snowden’s leak prompted a backlash among American voters protective of their privacy. That reaction ushered in the Freedom Act, signed into law in June 2015. The law extends three expiring surveillance provisions of the Patriot Act and amends the provision allowing the bulk collection of U.S. phone records by the NSA. Its proponents view the law as a civil rights victory, but its critics see it as a threat to national security.

Despite the controversy surrounding him, Snowden’s invitation to speak to students was met with enthusiasm. In fact, the event’s description painted Snowden in a largely favorable light, describing him as “a polemic figure” having been “awarded various distinctions for courage, public service, integrity, and peace.” Lecture Fund also described him as “a prominent thought leader in the field of global cybersecurity, espionage, data, and technology.” The clearly one-sided headlines that describe him were refreshing and unexpected, especially given Georgetown University’s extensive connections with leaders in the security field.

Reflecting on his actions, Edward Snowden stated that “public representations were different than private realities”, pointing out that the leaks were rooted in neither protest nor activism. The unresolved component of the discussion rests on that exact remark. Professor Doyle, the event’s moderator and adjunct law professor with focuses on privacy and security, posed a question that Snowden must answer if he wishes to return to the United States. Can Snowden win a lawsuit against the NSA by proving that its surveillance program, of unprecedented magnitude, is harmful to society and violates individuals’ privacy? At the same time, could he provide greater transparency regarding his perceived hypocrisy, criticizing the U.S. with the protection of an arguably insincere Russia? While the session was too short for a satisfying answer for the questions, it is certain that actions will speak louder than words in both cases.