Whistleblower reveals mass surveillance operation
A whistleblower has caused an enormous debate about privacy after releasing details of an American spy operation.
The Prism programme records and saves the telephone records and internet searches of individuals across the globe.
The released information shows that the National Security Agency (NSA) has access to data from companies including Facebook, Google and Microsoft and that it is recording the information, possibly for future use.
Spy chiefs have defended the programme saying the information is used to “prevent terrorist attacks” but this does not explain why they are keeping information about innocent civilians.
The details were leaked by Edward Snowden, who used to be a technical assistant for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He decided to publicise the information because he felt the public deserved to know they are being watched by their governments.
He said, “I do not want to live in a world where everything I say and do is recorded.”
Snowden is currently hiding in Russia.
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