This past year has seen a groundswell of interest and concern about the surveillance and spying programs employed by the U.S. at home and abroad. The most recent of these revelations has brought to light that any information on a cell phone may be vulnerable to U.S. spying efforts. This is just one of many insights afforded to the public by Mr. Edward Snowden.
The United States is currently pursuing litigation against Mr. Snowden. The international community is currently seeking considering honoring him with a Nobel Peace Prize.
“Edward Snowden has revealed the nature and technological prowess of modern surveillance.”
Earlier this week, Norwegian parliamentarians Snorre Valen and Baard Vegar Solhjell nominated Edward Snowden for the Nobel Peace Prize for the same disclosures the United States is seeking to put him behind bars for.
In his State of the Union, Barack Obama made passing note of the efforts he intends to make to overhaul and reform current surveillance programs. The administration maintains the position that Snowden is not deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize and instead “should be returned to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process.”
According to Bloomberg, the Norwegians that nominated Snowden view that the sum of Snowden’s disclosures has been positive, despite any potential far off negative consequences that may be associable with his disclosures.
“The public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden’s whistleblowing have contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order,” they said in their nomination letter.
The full text of the letter is available via a Norwegian site here. It includes a version of the letter in English.
Joshua is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. You can follow him on Twitter @Joshual33.
