Summary of Edward Snowden's Permanent Record

Whistleblower Edward Snowden made a life-altering decision to disclose the US government's unlawful surveillance activities by collecting and sharing internal documents with journalists. Snowden delves into the events leading up to that choice, the moral principles guiding it, and his personal journey in Permanent Record (2019). Snowden worked for both the CIA and NSA as a contractor and direct employee. He witnessed the transition from targeted surveillance to mass surveillance after the 9/11 attacks and contributed to the design of a vast covert network. Knowing that the system facilitated global mass surveillance, he used his tech skills to expose it. The US charged him with espionage, and he is now a citizen of Russia.