NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Reported “Missing” In China

NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Reported “Missing” In China

by Will Kohler

The BBC reporting that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden checked out of his Hong Kong hotel today and that his present whereabouts are unknown.

Hong Kong's broadcaster RTHK said Mr Snowden checked out of the Mira hotel on Monday. Reuters news agency quoted hotel staff as saying that he had left at noon. Ewen MacAskill, a Guardian journalist, told the BBC he believed Mr Snowden was still in Hong Kong. Hong Kong - a Chinese territory - has an extradition treaty with the US, although analysts say any attempts to bring Mr Snowden to America may take months and could be blocked by Beijing. Mr Snowden is believed to have arrived in Hong Kong on 20 May. A standard visa on arrival in the territory for a US citizen lasts for 90 days.

Thursday, the Washington Post and Guardian said the NSA tapped directly into the servers of nine internet firms including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo to track online communication in a program known as Prism.

Prism is said to give the NSA and FBI access to emails, web chats and other communications directly from the servers of major US internet companies

Prism is said to give the NSA and FBI access to emails, web chats and other communications directly from the servers of major US internet companies.

US director of national intelligence James Clapper's office said information gathered under Prism was obtained with the approval of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court (Fisa).

Prism was authorised under changes to US surveillance laws passed under President George W Bush, and renewed last year under Barack Obama

Will Kohler