Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former defense contractor who blew the whistle on wide-ranging surveillance programs run by the U.S. National Security Agency, announced his identity to the world from the Chinese territory of Hong Kong.
In an interview with The Guardian, which has published most of Snowdens disclosures on the NSAs widespread monitoring of phone calls and usage of Google, Facebook, and other popular Internet sites, Snowden said he decided to flee to Hong Kong because it has a spirited commitment to free speech and the right of political dissent.
