Edward Snowden Asks Putin About Russia's Surveillance Tactics

[kpete]

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual televised call-in show on Thursday and was asked a question by one very special guest -- Edward Snowden.

"I've seen little public discussion of Russia's own involvement in the policies of mass surveillance," Snowden said. "So I'd like to ask you, does Russia intercept, store or analyze in any way the communications of millions of individuals? And do you believe that simply increasing the effectiveness of intelligence or law enforcement investigations can justify placing societies, rather than subjects, under surveillance?"

Putin, a former KGB agent, set the tone by treating Snowden as something like an equal.

"Mr. Snowden, you are a former agent, a spy. I used to be working for an intelligence service," he said, according to RT's on-air translator. "We are going to talk one professional language."

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"First of all, our intelligence efforts are strictly regulated by our law," Putin said. "So how special forces can use this kind of special equipment as they intercept phone calls or follow someone online, you have to get court permission to stalk a particular person. We don't have a mass system of such interception. And according to our law, it cannot exist."

MORE:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ed-snowden-asks-putin-about-russian-surveillance

[L0oniX]

1. What is worth spying on? Everyone?

Terror profiteering ..spy on 330 million Americans = gov jobs

[jehop61]

2. So now Snowden is a propaganda tool for Putin

So "surprising" to see he's stepped over the line into touting Russia to the world. Perhaps he hasn't had enough press lately in the U.S. so now he has to make some more news for himself? If this man was a patriot, he wouldn't help Putin's propaganda war with the U.S. And to think, he was lucky enough to be the very first caller and get on the air. Amazing!