Views on Snowden: Quotes on leaks and liberty (pictures)

From Hillary Clinton to Steve Wozniak, here's what supporters and critics have to say about Edward Snowden and democracy.

James Martin

James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.

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Laura Hautala Former Senior Writer

Laura wrote about e-commerce and Amazon, and she occasionally covered cool science topics. Previously, she broke down cybersecurity and privacy issues for CNET readers. Laura is based in Tacoma, Washington, and was into sourdough before the pandemic.

Expertise E-commerce, Amazon, earned wage access, online marketplaces, direct to consumer, unions, labor and employment, supply chain, cybersecurity, privacy, stalkerware, hacking. Credentials

2022 Eddie Award for a single article in consumer technology

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James Martin

Laura Hautala

June 3, 2016 5:00 a.m. PT

1 of 12 Handout, Getty Images

Views on Snowden

Edward Snowden is seen by some as a champion of democracy and by others as an enemy of the state.

The former NSA contractor leaked classified information in 2013 that led to a series of news stories revealing surveillance programs used by the US and UK to scoop up vast stores of user data and communications off the Internet. His actions have been described as a public service and as treason.