Introduction
Edward Snowden's "Permanent Record" is a gripping memoir that takes readers on a journey through the life of one of the most controversial figures in recent American history. From his early days as a computer-obsessed teenager to his role as a whistleblower exposing the US government's mass surveillance program, Snowden's story is one of idealism, courage, and the power of individual conscience in the face of institutional wrongdoing.
This book provides an intimate look at the experiences and motivations that shaped Snowden's decision to leak classified information about the NSA's secret surveillance programs. It offers a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, privacy, and national security in the post-9/11 era, raising important questions about the balance between security and civil liberties in a digital age.
Growing Up in the Shadow of Fort Meade
Edward Snowden was born into a family deeply connected to government service. His mother worked as a clerk for the NSA, while his father was a Coast Guard engineer. This background would play a significant role in shaping Snowden's future career path and his understanding of the inner workings of government agencies.
When Snowden was nine years old, his family moved to Fort Meade, Maryland, a military installation that housed the NSA headquarters. Growing up in this environment, surrounded by government employees and a culture of secrecy, had a profound impact on young Edward. It exposed him to the world of intelligence and national security from an early age, planting the seeds for his future career.
Despite this background, Snowden's first love was not espionage or government work, but technology. From a young age, he was fascinated by computers and electronic devices. His father brought home a Commodore 64 computer system, which sparked Snowden's interest in technology. He spent countless hours tinkering with various gadgets, taking them apart and putting them back together, eager to understand how they worked.
The Internet: A New Frontier
The arrival of the internet in the Snowden household marked a turning point in Edward's life. Unlike today's internet dominated by tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, the internet of the 1990s was a vastly different place. It was a realm of endless possibilities, largely populated by tech enthusiasts and hobbyists who created elaborate amateur websites and forums.
For young Snowden, this early internet became a second home. He spent almost every waking moment online, immersing himself in a world of information and connection. The internet provided him with a community of like-minded individuals who shared his passion for technology and were eager to engage in discussions on various topics, from hardware problems to philosophical debates.
This online world offered Snowden something that he struggled to find in his day-to-day life as an introverted teenager: a sense of belonging and acceptance. Online, he could be anyone he wanted to be. The anonymity of the early internet allowed him to shed his real-world identity and explore different personas, a feature that would later influence his views on privacy and personal freedom.
Moreover, these online interactions played a crucial role in shaping Snowden's worldview. Through discussions with people from all over the globe, he was exposed to diverse perspectives on technology, politics, and society. This broadened his horizons and helped him develop critical thinking skills that would prove invaluable in his future career.
It was also during this time that Snowden began to develop his hacking skills. In the context of the early internet, "hacking" often meant understanding a system so well that you could manipulate it to your advantage. This could apply to computer systems, but also to any set of rules or structures. Snowden's first "hack" was a playful attempt to subvert his bedtime by setting back all the clocks in his house – a small act of rebellion that foreshadowed his future willingness to challenge authority.
Challenging Authority and Finding His Path
As Snowden grew older, his tendency to question and challenge arbitrary rules became more pronounced. In high school, upon learning that homework only accounted for 15 percent of the final grade, he made a calculated decision to stop doing homework altogether. He figured that if he performed perfectly on tests, he could still achieve a B grade without the burden of daily assignments. This allowed him to dedicate more time to his true passion: computers and the internet.
However, Snowden's plan to coast through high school was derailed when he contracted mononucleosis in his sophomore year. The illness left him too exhausted to attend classes or even use his computer. After four months of absence, the school informed him that he would have to repeat the grade. This news jolted Snowden out of his lethargic state and prompted him to look for an alternative solution.
In a bold move, Snowden applied to Anne Arundel Community College without a high school diploma. He was accepted and began attending classes two days a week while recovering from his illness. This unconventional path allowed him to eventually earn his General Education Diploma, equivalent to a US high school diploma, and move forward with his education.
At community college, Snowden's exceptional computer skills caught the attention of an older classmate named Mae. Recognizing his talent, Mae recruited him to help with her budding online business. Together, they started designing websites for companies from Mae's basement, capitalizing on the growing demand for tech-savvy freelancers. This experience gave Snowden his first taste of the professional world of technology and entrepreneurship.
The Impact of 9/11 and the Call to Serve
The events of September 11, 2001, marked a turning point in Snowden's life, as they did for many Americans. He was at Mae's house when they received a call from her husband, who worked at the NSA, informing them of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. As Snowden drove home to be with his family, he passed the NSA headquarters in Fort Meade and witnessed the frantic evacuation of the building.
Seeing his fellow Americans in such a state of panic and distress awakened a strong sense of patriotism in Snowden. He felt a compelling urge to help his country during this time of crisis. This led him to make a significant decision: he would join the military.
Snowden enlisted and began his basic training at Fort Benning. However, his military career was cut short when he fractured his ankle just a few months into training. Forced to recover on his mother's couch, Snowden had to reconsider how he could best serve his country.
It was during this period of reflection that Snowden realized he could contribute most effectively by utilizing his existing skills in computer technology. He decided to apply for the security clearance necessary to work in a tech position for intelligence agencies like the CIA or NSA. This process involved an extensive background check that typically takes several months to complete.
While waiting for his clearance, the 22-year-old Snowden experienced another life-changing event: he met Lindsay Mills, the woman who would become the love of his life. They connected through an online dating site, and their relationship quickly blossomed, adding a new dimension to Snowden's life.
Finally, Snowden received his security clearance and passed the required polygraph tests. His first job in the intelligence community was as a night-shift security guard at a newly constructed NSA facility in Maryland. Although this position was far from glamorous, it marked the beginning of Snowden's career in government intelligence.
Rising Through the Ranks
Snowden's rapid ascent through the ranks of the intelligence community was facilitated by the post-9/11 climate. In the wake of the terrorist attacks, the US government dramatically expanded its security efforts, launching the so-called War on Terror. This expansion created a high demand for fresh talent in the intelligence agencies, particularly in the growing field of cybersecurity.
The urgency of this recruitment drive meant that agencies like the NSA and CIA were willing to waive certain position requirements – such as a college degree – for candidates who showed exceptional promise. Snowden, with his prodigious computer skills, fit this profile perfectly.
Eager to find a more challenging role, Snowden began attending government job fairs. These events were hosted by companies like Dell, Intel, and Lockheed Martin, which recruited talent for specialist government jobs. Through a company called COMSO, Snowden landed his first contracting job as a systems administrator at CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia.
In this role, Snowden was responsible for managing the agency's private servers. However, after several months of working in a windowless basement, he yearned for a broader experience. This led him to pursue a position as an official government employee, which would allow him to work and live abroad.
To achieve this goal, Snowden enrolled in a six-month CIA program to become a Technical Information Security Officer (TISO). TISOs play a crucial role in intelligence operations, managing the technology behind various missions, from setting up computer networks to fixing appliances. They are stationed at US embassies around the world, offering Snowden the opportunity for international experience he desired.
During his training, Snowden requested an assignment at an embassy in the Middle East, hoping for a challenging and dynamic environment. However, an incident during his training would alter the course of his career. Frustrated with the poor living conditions at the CIA training center, Snowden took it upon himself to complain directly to the director of Field Service, bypassing the usual chain of command. While his actions resulted in improvements for his class, they also earned him a reputation as someone who didn't always follow the rules.
As a consequence, instead of being sent to the Middle East, Snowden was assigned to work as a TISO for the NSA in Geneva, Switzerland. Although not the field experience he had initially hoped for, this assignment proved to be a significant stepping stone in his career. It placed Snowden at the heart of the US government's transition to technology-based intelligence, a position that would later prove crucial in shaping his understanding of the government's surveillance capabilities.
The Seeds of Doubt: Uncovering Mass Surveillance
It was during his time working in intelligence that Snowden first began to question the ethical implications of the technology he was helping to build and maintain. A pivotal moment came in 2009 when he was working as a systems administrator at the NSA's Pacific Technical Center.
Snowden was unexpectedly asked to attend a conference in Hong Kong to give a presentation on China's surveillance of private communications. As he hurriedly prepared for the presentation, studying the technology China used to monitor its citizens' online activity, emails, and phone calls, a troubling thought occurred to him: If China was capable of such extensive surveillance of its citizens, wouldn't the United States be doing the same?
This realization prompted Snowden to reflect on cases he had heard about where US intelligence agencies had overstepped their bounds. He recalled the controversy surrounding the President's Surveillance Program (PSP), which had allowed intelligence agencies to wiretap phone calls without a warrant. Curious about the details of this program, Snowden searched the NSA system for the classified version of the report on the PSP, but found nothing.
Months later, by chance, the classified PSP report landed on Snowden's desk. What he read shocked him. The classified report bore little resemblance to the public version that had been released. It detailed a program called STELLARWIND, which aimed for the "bulk collection" of phone and online activities of American citizens. This included intimate information such as individuals' browsing histories.
The program, implemented with the cooperation of private telecommunication companies like AT&T, focused on collecting metadata of people's conversations – information about when, where, and with whom communications took place. This metadata could reveal not only a person's current location and companions but also their past movements and future plans.
In essence, STELLARWIND was a mass surveillance program that enabled the US government to spy on its own citizens at will, a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment right to privacy.
Initially, Snowden tried to rationalize his discovery, attempting to justify the program as a necessary evil in the fight against terrorism. However, he found it increasingly difficult to reconcile this invasion of privacy with his understanding of American values and constitutional rights.
The weight of this knowledge began to take a toll on Snowden's mental and physical health. He grew increasingly depressed and even started experiencing epileptic seizures. The burden of carrying this secret, which he couldn't share with anyone, became almost unbearable.
Unable to continue as if nothing had changed, Snowden decided to take a break from his work. He needed time to process what he had learned and to consider its implications for his career and his conscience.
The Decision to Become a Whistleblower
After taking some time to recover his health, Snowden accepted a position with the NSA in Hawaii. He hoped that a change of scenery, living in paradise with Lindsay, would improve both his physical and mental well-being. Although this new job was a step down both financially and professionally, Snowden didn't mind. He saw it as an opportunity to gather more information about the surveillance programs he had discovered.
In his new role, Snowden used his idle time to extensively browse the NSA's internal news feeds, known as readboards. These contained reports from various departments within the agency. To streamline his research, Snowden even created a program called Heartbeat, which compiled all new and important reports into a single newsfeed.
A pivotal moment came on Constitution Day in 2012. As a small act of rebellion, Snowden left printed copies of the US Constitution on his coworkers' desks – an unusual sight in an office where most documents were classified and digital. When he reread the Constitution himself, Snowden was struck by the clarity of the Fourth Amendment's protection of citizens' right to privacy.
This rereading of the Constitution, combined with his growing understanding of the extent of the NSA's surveillance programs, led Snowden to a stark realization: the government and its intelligence agencies were no longer adhering to the principles that had guided their creation. Instead of ensuring the freedom and safety of US citizens, they were actively violating people's freedoms under the guise of national security.
Snowden grappled with this knowledge, feeling a deep sense of responsibility to inform the public about these violations of their privacy rights. He concluded that the people had a right to know about the mass surveillance being conducted without their knowledge or consent.
However, Snowden knew that exposing this information would be no small task. He needed to approach it systematically and carefully. He devised a plan: first, he would gather as much relevant information as possible without compromising other intelligence operations. Then, he would share these documents with select journalists who could be trusted to reveal the information to the public in a responsible and contextualized manner.
After careful consideration, Snowden chose two journalists who had previously reported on government overreach: Laura Poitras, a documentarian known for her films about US foreign policy after 9/11, and Glenn Greenwald, a civil liberties lawyer who had reported on the unclassified PSP report in 2009. Snowden reached out to them through encrypted emails from his home computer.
This decision marked the point of no return for Snowden. He was committing himself to a path that would irrevocably change his life and potentially put him in grave danger. Yet, driven by his belief in the importance of transparency and the public's right to know, Snowden pressed forward with his plan.
The Logistics of Leaking
Once Snowden had made the momentous decision to expose the NSA's mass surveillance program, he faced a daunting challenge: how to extract highly classified documents from one of the world's most secure institutions without getting caught.
Accessing the documents themselves was relatively straightforward thanks to the Heartbeat program Snowden had created. The real difficulty lay in searching through the files to find the specific information that would be most useful to Poitras and Greenwald without alerting the NSA to his activities.
Snowden was acutely aware that every move he made on his NSA work computer was monitored by the agency. To circumvent this, he devised an ingenious plan. Under the guise of "compatibility testing," he began transferring files onto several unused computers scattered around the office. These old machines provided Snowden with a safe environment to search and organize the documents without raising suspicion.
Once he had compiled the necessary information, Snowden faced another challenge: how to physically remove the data from the NSA building. He decided to use SD cards, which were small enough to conceal but had sufficient storage capacity for the encrypted files. The process of copying the files onto these cards was painstakingly slow, sometimes taking up to eight hours for a single transfer.
To smuggle the SD cards out of the building, Snowden came up with a clever ruse. He began carrying around a Rubik's cube, hiding the SD cards under its removable tiles. This seemingly innocuous hobby prop allowed him to pass through security checks undetected. To the guards, he became known as the harmless "Rubik's Cube guy," never suspecting that he was carrying out one of the most significant leaks in US intelligence history.
Once safely home, Snowden transferred the files onto his personal hard drive. To transmit the documents to the journalists, he took extra precautions. He would drive to different locations and use strangers' wifi networks to send the encrypted files, making it harder for anyone to trace the source of the leaks.
Snowden was under no illusions about the risks he was taking. He knew that once the documents were made public, the NSA would be able to identify him as the source, given that only a handful of people had access to this level of classified information. He briefly considered altering the documents to obscure their origin, but ultimately decided against it. Tampering with the files could have compromised their credibility, and Snowden believed that the public good outweighed his personal safety.
As a final step in his information-gathering mission, Snowden requested a transfer to the National Threat Operation Center in Hawaii. His goal was to learn more about a program called XKEYSCORE, the search engine that allowed NSA officials to access the data collected through the STELLARWIND program.
This transfer required one last trip to Fort Meade for training. During this time, Snowden's fellow analysts showed him how to use the XKEYSCORE system. What he discovered was even more alarming than he had anticipated. XKEYSCORE was an incredibly powerful tool that allowed analysts to access an individual's entire online history simply by entering a name or IP address.
Perhaps most disturbing was the realization that some analysts were using this system for personal reasons, such as spying on their partners or family members. But for Snowden, the true horror lay not in these individual abuses, but in the system's potential for widespread violation of privacy. XKEYSCORE gave government employees the ability to spy on nearly anyone, at any time, with minimal oversight.
This final piece of information solidified Snowden's resolve. He knew that he had to expose this system, regardless of the personal consequences he might face.
The Aftermath: Publication and Exile
As Snowden prepared to return to Hawaii, he was acutely aware that his time was running out. He knew that once the documents were published, it wouldn't take long for the government to identify him as the source. With a heavy heart, he began making preparations to leave the United States – potentially forever.
The most painful aspect of this preparation was keeping it secret from Lindsay, his long-time partner. Snowden didn't want to implicate her in his actions, so he suffered through their last few weeks together in silence, knowing that he would soon disappear from her life without explanation.
When the time came, Snowden fled the country while Lindsay was on a camping trip with friends. His first stop was Hong Kong, where he met with Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald. Over the course of several intense days, they worked together to organize and prepare the leaked documents for publication.
On June 6, 2013, the first of Greenwald's articles about the NSA's surveillance program appeared in The Guardian newspaper. The revelations sent shockwaves around the world, igniting a global debate about privacy, security, and the extent of government surveillance in the digital age.
Anticipating that the US government would soon identify him as the source of the leaks, Snowden made the bold decision to reveal his identity publicly. On June 9, he appeared in a video interview, explaining his motivations for leaking the documents and his hopes for how the information would be used to bring about change.
Following his public revelation, Snowden sought refuge in a safe house near Hong Kong, assisted by a lawyer friend of Greenwald's. However, he knew that his stay in Hong Kong was temporary. The US government would soon be seeking his extradition, and he needed to find a more permanent solution.
Snowden was aware that despite the existence of laws protecting government whistleblowers in the US, his case was different. The classified nature of the documents he had leaked meant that he could face severe penalties if he returned to stand trial. His fears were confirmed on June 17, 2013, when the US officially charged him with espionage.
With the charges formalized, Snowden and his growing team of lawyers began frantically searching for a country that would grant him asylum. They submitted applications to numerous nations, but one by one, their requests were denied. It seemed that no country was willing to risk damaging its relationship with the United States by harboring Snowden.
In this desperate situation, WikiLeaks editor Sarah Harrison came to Snowden's aid. She arranged for him to seek asylum in Ecuador, which had previously granted refuge to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. To avoid capture, a complex travel route was planned, taking Snowden from Moscow to Havana, then to Caracas, and finally to Ecuador.
However, this carefully laid plan went awry during Snowden's layover in Moscow. He was stopped by Russian authorities, who informed him that the US State Department had canceled his passport. Suddenly, Snowden found himself trapped in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, unable to enter Russia or to continue his journey.
For 40 long nights, Snowden lived in the airport, surrounded by curious journalists and under the watchful eye of Russian authorities. The situation seemed impossible to resolve – he couldn't leave Russia without valid travel documents, but no country seemed willing to grant him asylum.
Finally, after weeks of diplomatic wrangling and increasing international attention, the Russian government, weary of the situation, granted Snowden temporary asylum. This decision allowed him to leave the airport and enter Russia, but it also meant that his journey to Ecuador was over. Moscow would become his new, albeit unintended, home.
In the years since, Snowden has continued to live in Moscow. Despite the challenges of exile, he has found some measure of normalcy. Lindsay, the girlfriend he left behind, eventually joined him in Russia, and they have since married. From his place of exile, Snowden has remained active in advocating for digital privacy rights. He has developed various online privacy applications and continues to speak out on issues related to government surveillance and individual liberty.
Throughout it all, Snowden has maintained hope that one day he will be able to return to the United States. He sees his actions not as a betrayal of his country, but as an act of loyalty to the principles upon which the United States was founded – particularly the right to privacy and protection against unreasonable searches enshrined in the Fourth Amendment.
Final Thoughts
Edward Snowden's "Permanent Record" is more than just a memoir; it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked government power in the digital age. Through his personal journey from patriotic government employee to whistleblower in exile, Snowden illuminates the complex ethical dilemmas faced by individuals working within systems they come to see as deeply flawed or even dangerous.
The book raises crucial questions about the balance between national security and individual privacy rights. In an era where our digital footprints are increasingly extensive and permanent, Snowden argues that we must be vigilant in protecting our right to privacy. He contends that mass surveillance not only violates constitutional rights but also fundamentally alters the relationship between citizens and their government, creating a chilling effect on free speech and democratic participation.
Snowden's story also highlights the power of individual conscience in the face of institutional wrongdoing. Despite the personal cost – exile from his home country, separation from loved ones, and the constant threat of prosecution – Snowden chose to act on his convictions. His actions sparked a global conversation about government surveillance and led to significant reforms in how intelligence agencies operate.
However, the book also serves as a reminder that the issues Snowden exposed are far from resolved. As technology continues to advance, the capacity for mass surveillance only grows. Snowden's call for increased transparency, robust privacy protections, and meaningful oversight of intelligence agencies remains as relevant today as it was when he first came forward.
"Permanent Record" is ultimately a deeply personal account of one man's journey from a childhood fascination with computers to becoming one of the most significant whistleblowers in modern history. It offers readers a unique insider's perspective on the secretive world of intelligence agencies and the ethical challenges faced by those who work within them.
As we continue to grapple with questions of privacy, security, and the role of technology in our lives, Snowden's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant in defense of our rights and the potential cost of standing up for one's principles in the face of overwhelming opposition.
Whether one views Snowden as a patriot or a traitor, his actions have undeniably shaped the ongoing debate about privacy and surveillance in the digital age. "Permanent Record" provides valuable context for understanding these complex issues and challenges readers to consider their own role in shaping the future of privacy and democracy in an increasingly digital world.