In conversation with Edward Snowden | Web Summit 2019

7:08PM Nov 4, 2019

Speakers:

Paddy Cosgrave

Edward Snowden

James Ball

Keywords:

government

companies

internet

problem

public

tech

institutions

power

question

world

act

phone

system

surveillance

fines

edward snowden

law

protect

talking

longer

For many, Edward Snowden defines what it means to be a whistleblower. In 2013, he exposed a system of mass global surveillance. Six years later, he continues to be one of the most listened to voices in the world. In conversation with Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist James Ball, please welcome Edward Snowden.

At this stage I can offer nothing more than my word. I'm a senior government employee in the intelligence community. I hope you understand that contacting you is extremely high risk. For now know that every border you cross, every purchase you make, every call you dial, every cell phone tower you pass, friend you keep, site you visit and subject line you type is in the hands of a system whose reach is unlimited, but whose safeguards are not. In the end if you publish the source material, I will likely be immediately implicated. I ask that you only that you ensure this information makes it home to the American public. Thank you and be careful. Citizen four.

So I don't know anything about you.

Okay. I work for

Sorry I don't know your name.

Oh sorry, I, my name is Edward Snowden, I go by Ed. Edward Joseph Snowden's the full name.