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TomCADem

(17,391 posts) Thu Apr 17, 2014, 10:59 AM Apr 2014

Snowden asks Putin about Moscow surveillance [View all]

Source: CNN

Months after accepting asylum in Russia, fugitive U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden on Thursday asked Russian President Vladimir Putin about Moscow's own surveillance practices.

"Does Russia intercept, store or analyze in any way the communications of millions of individuals?" Snowden asked in English via a video link during Putin's annual question-and-answer program, which was broadcast on state television. "And do you believe that simply increasing the effectiveness of intelligence or law enforcement investigations can justify placing societies, rather than their subjects, under surveillance?"

Putin responded that Russia has a special service that bugs telephone conversations and Internet communications to fight crimes, including terrorism, but only with court permission and only "for specific citizens."

"So, the mass character is something we do not have and cannot have," Putin said in Russian.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/17/world/europe/russia-snowden-putin/

Since Putin was a former member of the KGB, he definitely is a person who would know whether or not Russia conducted surveillance on its citizens without any accountability.

72 replies

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Snowden asks Putin about Moscow surveillance [View all] TomCADem Apr 2014 OP

That is pretty ballsy. /nt Ash_F Apr 2014 #1

Yeah. Sure it was. It was completely staged, of course. NT Adrahil Apr 2014 #8

LOL. No kidding. nt Cali_Democrat Apr 2014 #20

Let me guess LiberalLovinLug Apr 2014 #22

LOL... how gullible are you? NT Adrahil Apr 2014 #29

Not as half as you seem to be LiberalLovinLug Apr 2014 #34

If Comrade Snowden,,, Cryptoad Apr 2014 #48

Lol!!!!! SUUUUUuuuurrreeee.... Adrahil Apr 2014 #50

and of course he would tell everyone on State TV Voice for Peace Apr 2014 #2

opening this can of worms won't endear Snowden to Putin wordpix Apr 2014 #3

LOL.... Putin's people totally put him up to this. Adrahil Apr 2014 #9

Especially since Comrade Snowden's lawyer & Putin are both former KGB. If anyone believes this.... Tarheel_Dem Apr 2014 #53

Precisely. nt MADem Apr 2014 #64

Snowden is gunning for cosmicone Apr 2014 #4

He's not "gunning" for anything except the right to privacy. cabrona Apr 2014 #30

Considering that Obama already won one ozone_man Apr 2014 #60

Interesting questions cabrona Apr 2014 #5

Or they just don't have the money to run such an operation. Ash_F Apr 2014 #10

Putin actually says this in the video at the link. nt cabrona Apr 2014 #19

Oh, Bullshit albino65 Apr 2014 #6

Clapper? [n/t] Maedhros Apr 2014 #25

Good one n/t albino65 Apr 2014 #26

Lol vdogg Apr 2014 #7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda stonecutter357 Apr 2014 #11

“Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?” groovedaddy Apr 2014 #12

:) nt cabrona Apr 2014 #13

+1. nt OnyxCollie Apr 2014 #15

Doing this was probably a condition of his continued asylum jmowreader Apr 2014 #14

Who needs phones? They had a snitch or ten in every apartment complex...the walls had MADem Apr 2014 #65

And a snitch in every department of every company, and one in every classroom... jmowreader Apr 2014 #67

Ha ha ha ha ha! What a hot shit! MADem Apr 2014 #72

So.... rtracey Apr 2014 #16

That was basically a softball question, and I'm sure he knew what the answer would be.... George II Apr 2014 #17

I guess that settles that then. gholtron Apr 2014 #18

What's up with Snowden? brush Apr 2014 #21

Does anyone actually think Putin would answer honestly??? LiberalLovinLug Apr 2014 #23

I didn't suggest this at all . . . brush Apr 2014 #33

"the hero he sees himself to be"? LiberalLovinLug Apr 2014 #40

All I have to say is . . . brush Apr 2014 #44

He's not naive. He's either a prisoner or a collaborator. MADem Apr 2014 #27

The timing came out just as the USA was going after China for corporate spying. joshcryer Apr 2014 #28

OMG! LiberalLovinLug Apr 2014 #31

You'd rather respond than read, I guess. nt MADem Apr 2014 #63

I think you're on to something. brush Apr 2014 #35

There's a blogger who has read the latest VF article about him who thinks that MADem Apr 2014 #61

And a clear majority of Americans are probably asking that very question. Tarheel_Dem Apr 2014 #54

What makes sense to me is this: goldent Apr 2014 #71

This laughable stunt can only be realistically seen two ways: Blue_Tires Apr 2014 #24

There is another way. cabrona Apr 2014 #32

I'd hate to break it to you, but regimes like this neffernin Apr 2014 #36

Regimes like the US? Ash_F Apr 2014 #37

+1 cabrona Apr 2014 #39

In no way to I agree that we are any means fair neffernin Apr 2014 #41

Who said I was talking up Russia? Ash_F Apr 2014 #45

You did. neffernin Apr 2014 #46

That last line was sarcasm. Ash_F Apr 2014 #47

Try some facts on for size neffernin Apr 2014 #43

Facts? cabrona Apr 2014 #59

"I believe Putin when he says that Russia doesn't have the money to do it...." Blue_Tires Apr 2014 #42

LOL nt SunSeeker Apr 2014 #52

*puts tounge firmly in cheek* Bodhi BloodWave Apr 2014 #56

+1,000 !!!! nt MADem Apr 2014 #66

Governments don't have just one bank account jmowreader Apr 2014 #68

+1 cabrona Apr 2014 #69

$50 billion is nothing. cabrona Apr 2014 #70

Regardless of your opinion of Snowden neffernin Apr 2014 #38

Yep,,,,, Cryptoad Apr 2014 #49

Snowden didn't run to Russia! JackRiddler Apr 2014 #55

Wow, how can it be Russia does not listen to conversations but yet reveals a Thinkingabout Apr 2014 #51

NOW he asks? Hekate Apr 2014 #57

Maybe a Russian Snowden will defect and prove him wrong. SolutionisSolidarity Apr 2014 #58

The NSA program is very big, expensive and involves thousands of people. Ash_F Apr 2014 #62