Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (NSA) employee who leaked details about the US government’s massive surveillance programs, is finally on Twitter. He created an account on Tuesday, September 29, while in exile in Russia with a simple handle @Snowden .
Although the @Snowden twitter handle belonged to another person, since the other account was inactive for nearly three years, Twitter gave it to him, a Twitter spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal .
He has over 840k followers (and still growing) but he is following only one Twitter handle and that is the verified account of NSA.
Can you hear me now?
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015 This simple question got 90k retweets. According to his Twitter account, he is at present the director of Freedom Of The Press. Initial reaction on social media to Snowden was more positive than negative as reported by Reuters. Even Twitter couldn’t resist but make the announcement on its handle.
Today @Snowden joined Twitter, and here’s the world’s response. pic.twitter.com/d6HgVvdRsf
— Twitter (@twitter) September 29, 2015 In his first hours on Twitter, Snowden exchanged tweets with prominent astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
Feeling a Geek vibe. Edward @Snowden , the man behind the global mass surveillance revelations. Welcome to @twitter .
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 29, 2015 Ed @Snowden , If you visit Mars, I’d bet any life forms there will greet you with a sip of that water — and a tourist visa.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 29, 2015 . @neiltyson Surveillance never sleeps, and secret projects @FreedomofPress are keeping me busy, but I still find time for cat pictures.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015 Ed @Snowden , many call you Hero, others Traitor. Whatever else you are, you’re a Geek to me. What do you say to those labels?
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 29, 2015 . @neiltyson , @DanielEllsberg told me #labels never stopped progress. Neither in 1776 nor today. [2/2] pic.twitter.com/CzRZ6ur6xc
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015 Ed @Snowden , after discussing everything from Chemistry to the Constitution on #StarTalk , you’re a patriot to me. Stay safe.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) September 29, 2015 . @neiltyson Stay free.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015 Meanwhile, a thousand people at Fort Meade just opened Twitter.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015 All this while, we knew Snowden as the absconding fugitive. On Tuesday, with his witty tweets and comebacks, he has developed another witty personal identity.
