Snowden criticized Russia's new anti-terrorism law
Edward Snowden, a former contractor who worked for the US National Security Agency, has criticized the anti-terror law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The laws were developed by MP Irina Yarovaya and the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Viktor Ozerov.
This law mandates a life imprisonment for international terrorism; lowers the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years; and requires telecom operators, messaging apps and social networks to store all conversations and correspondence of users, as well as photo and video materials.
“Putin has signed a repressive new law that not only violates human rights but common sense,” Snowden wrote on Twitter. He noted that, in addition to the political and constitutional consequences, the “Yarovaya law” will put a tax on the internet worth more than $33 billion.
On June 25, 2016 Snowden urged Putin not to sign the “Yarovaya law,” calling it a “Big Brother law,” comparing it to the system of surveillance described in George Orwell’s book, 1984, RBC informs.
The requirement for telecom operators and internet companies to store text messages and calls from users up to six months was described by Snowden as “not just dangerous, but impractical.”
“Mass surveillance does not work. The law takes away money and freedom of every Russian citizen. At the same time, the security level will not change,” Snowden said.