Edward Snowden
“Edward Snowden has triggered a massive public debate on privacy in the internet age.”
The U.S. administration has not responded positively to invitation to present its side of the Edward Snowden story at the Council of Europe based in Strasbourg, France.
The council is Europe’s top human rights watchdog.
In a statement on Monday, the council said that Mr. Snowden, U.S. former intelligence contractor, is to address the council during a hearing on mass surveillance this week.
Mr. Snowden, who fled to Russia after exposing the surveillance activities of the National Security Agency, NSA, would testify to the council via a live video link from Moscow.
“Edward Snowden has triggered a massive public debate on privacy in the internet age.
“We hope to ask him what his revelations mean for ordinary users and how they should protect their privacy and what kind of restrictions Europe should impose on state surveillance.’’
Pieter Omtzigt of the council said it also hoped to find out more about how the NSA deals with whistleblowers, adding that he regretted that the U.S. administration had not responded positively to invitation to present its side of the story.
The hearing would also include the former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, Hansjoerg Geiger, who has proposed a codex to regulate intelligence activities among friendly states.
Earlier attempts by the European Parliament to set up a video hearing with Snowden were rejected over security concerns.
Both institutions are based in the French city of Strasbourg.
However, unlike the parliament, the Council of Europe is not a European Union institution.
(dpa/NAN)
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