WATCH: Edward Snowden Asks Putin About Russia's Surveillance Tactics

[DonViejo]

CATHERINE THOMPSON – APRIL 17, 2014, 9:11 AM EDT

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual televised call-in show on Thursday and was asked a question by one very special guest -- Edward Snowden.

"I've seen little public discussion of Russia's own involvement in the policies of mass surveillance," Snowden said. "So I'd like to ask you, does Russia intercept, store or analyze in any way the communications of millions of individuals? And do you believe that simply increasing the effectiveness of intelligence or law enforcement investigations can justify placing societies, rather than subjects, under surveillance?"

Putin, a former KGB agent, set the tone by treating Snowden as something like an equal.

"Mr. Snowden, you are a former agent, a spy. I used to be working for an intelligence service," he said, according to RT's on-air translator. "We are going to talk one professional language."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ed-snowden-asks-putin-about-russian-surveillance

[BenzoDia]

1. Of course Russia engages in mass surveillance with flimsy legal oversight.

Snowden's access to the NSA's intel would make him an expert on it's capabilities.

I can't believe he's participating in this.

[msanthrope]

2. This was the ultimate standup routine....the KGB agent and the spy. nt

[snooper2]

3. Russia is starting to look a little like North Korea LOL, no wonder they are friends