PRISM surveillance disclosures

In June 2013, journalists from The Guardian and The Washington Post claimed they had been working with Snowden since February and May that same year, respectively, with Snowden using encrypted emails to communicate with them. Snowden has requested them not to quote him at length for fear of identification through semantic analysis.

In May 2013, Snowden was permitted temporary leave from his position at the NSA in Hawaii, under the false pretense of epilepsy treatment. He moved out of his home and left nothing behind.

On May 20, 2013, Snowden flew to Hong Kong and stayed in a hotel in the Tsim Sha Tsui area. When he checked out of the hotel four days later, he had in fact "signed in under his own name, using his own credit cards" despite his knowledge of surveillance techniques.

On June 6, 2013, the PRISM project was revealed by the Guardian and the Washington Post. Three days later, Snowden's identity was made public by The Guardian at his own request.

On June 17, 2013, in during a Q&A with The Guardian, Snowden denied speculations that he had acted as a spy for the Chinese government.

Snowden has vowed to challenge any extradition attempt by the U.S. government. He has reportedly approached several human rights lawyers.

(Wikipedia contributed to the story.)