Edward Snowden is officially on Twitter. The former CIA employee turned controversial whistleblower made his social media debut with this tweet:
Can you hear me now?
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015
At present, Snowden only follows one account, that of the US National Security Agency (NSA). His bio reads: 'I used to work for the government. Now I work for the public. Director at @FreedomofPress.' The account has already racked up close to a million followers since it's creation yesterday. Snowden hasn't said much so far, but he did have this exchange with astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson.
Ed @Snowden, If you visit Mars, I'd bet any life forms there will greet you with a sip of that water -- and a tourist visa. — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 29, 2015
.@neiltyson Surveillance never sleeps, and secret projects @FreedomofPress are keeping me busy, but I still find time for cat pictures.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015
Their chat continued with Tyson asking some tough questions, to which Snowden responded:
.@neiltyson Hero, traitor -- I'm just a citizen with a voice. [1/2] — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015
.@neiltyson, @DanielEllsberg told me #labels never stopped progress. Neither in 1776 nor today. [2/2] pic.twitter.com/CzRZ6ur6xc — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015
.@neiltyson Stay free. — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015
Snowden has been living in Russia ever since he leaked thousands of documents to the global press that revealed the US government's surveillance activities on it's citizens. Earlier this year he made this appearance on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver:
If you're interested in hearing more from him, be sure to follow his twitter account. There's no doubt that Snowden will have much to share about the ongoing fight against excessive surveillance and privacy abuse.
