Edward Snowden was born on 21 June 1983 in Elizabeth City. An American computer specialist and former contractor for the National Security Agency, Snowden leaked thousands of classified documents to journalists in 2013, revealing the extent of global surveillance programs run by the United States and its allies, including the bulk collection of telephone records. The disclosures, published by The Guardian and The Washington Post, started a worldwide debate on privacy, security and government secrecy. Charged in the United States under the Espionage Act, he fled to Hong Kong and then Russia, where he was granted asylum and later citizenship. Opinions differ over whether he is a whistleblower or someone who harmed national security.
Before and after
- 4 April 1983First flight of Challenger
- 18 April 1983Founding of Disney Channel
- from 5 June 1983 to 9 January 2005Second Sudanese Civil War
- 19 June 1983Construction of BC Place
- 21 June 1983Birth of Edward Snowden
- 15 July 1983Orly Airport attack
- from 23 July 1983 to 29 July 1987Eelam War I
- from 23 July 1983 to 18 May 2009Sri Lankan civil war
- 6 August 1983Birth of Robin van Persie
More in Wars, politics & history
- from January 1978 to February 1979Iranian Revolution
- from 25 December 1979 to 15 February 1989Soviet-Afghan War
- from 20 March 2003 to 15 December 2011Iraq War
- from 18 December 2010 to 1 December 2012Arab Spring
- from 15 March 2011 to 8 December 2024Syrian Civil War
- 28 February 20262026 Iran War
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.