Edward Snowden has sent a message from exile to hundreds of activists protesting in Washington against US spying policies.
American whistleblower Edward J. Snowden has sent a message from exile to hundreds of activists protesting in Washington against US spying policies.
In his message, Snowden who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia, described “a system of pervasive surveillance” operating against American citizens, and urged rights activists to spread awareness of the spying violations in the name of reform, the Christian Science Monitor reported.
The former National Security Agency contractor, wanted in the US for espionage charges, sent his message to the Washington’s rally as a statement.
“Today, no telephone in America makes a call without leaving a record with the NSA. Today, no Internet transaction enters or leaves America without passing through the NSA's hands. Our representatives in Congress tell us this is not surveillance. They’re wrong,” Snowden said. “Now it’s time for the government
to learn from us.”
Anti-secrecy activists gathered in front of the Capitol on Saturday protesting against NSA spying programs, which were first disclosed in June by Snowden.
US citizens and world leaders are rattled at reports of the massive US surveillance of phone and Internet communications.
Last week, leaks linked to the 30-year-old whistleblower revealed that the US super spy agency had eavesdropped on cell phone calls by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. This follows protests by other world leaders from Brazil, France, Spain, Italy, and as many 30 other countries who say NSA spying is a violation and could seriously impair their relationship with the US.
Washington has officially denied the monitoring but protests continue in the US and throughout the world.
In America, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released in July indicated that nearly three-quarters of Americans say the NSA is infringing on some privacy rights, and half see the agency programs infringing on their own rights.
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