On a silent Moscow night, Edward **den sat in the dim light, staring deeply into a computer screen.
This former National Security Agency (NSA) technician is now regarded as an "American traitor", but some people hail him as a "leak hero". His name, Edward Deng, has become a symbol of the global controversy over privacy and surveillance.
A few years ago, he shocked the world by exposing the actions of the "Prism Project", a secret surveillance project in the United States. Since then, his life has become an unfolding mystery.
Today, he lives in Russia in a foreign country with his wife and children.
He no longer reveals his secrets as frequently as he used to, but he is still active on social media, expressing his views on the current international situation from time to time.
Despite being far from the epicenter of the turmoil, his presence still provokes deep reflection on privacy, transparency and personal freedom.
In 2013, Edward Deng's actions shook the world. His series of secret meetings with journalist Glenn Greenwald became a crucial step in exposing the surveillance program of the National Security Agency (NSA).
Greenwald, a veteran journalist, obtained a large number of classified documents through **Deng. The documents contain detailed descriptions of the mass surveillance activities of the United States and its allies, particularly the controversial Project Prism.
Project Prism is a secret electronic surveillance project that allows the NSA to connect directly to the servers of tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.
This means that the U.S. will be able to directly access the personal data of millions of users of these companies, including email, social activity, and even chat, without any court order.
This extensive monitoring activity has also extended globally, involving *** and corporate executives in many countries.
On June 6, 2013, the Guardian and the Washington Post published a sexual report about Project Prism almost simultaneously. The reports, based on documents provided by Deng, provide detailed information on how the United States conducts covert surveillance activities around the world.
These disclosures quickly caused an uproar around the world. People are beginning to worry about their privacy and security, and they are panicking about the possibility of being secretly monitored by themselves or foreign countries.
The public reaction quickly picked up. In many countries, people are beginning to question theirs and the United States. They are demanding more transparency and respect for the right to privacy.
Many countries have expressed outrage and disappointment at such extensive U.S. surveillance, and some have even proposed formal diplomacy.
* Den's revelations to The Guardian and The Washington Post expose not only the existence of Project Prism, but also a range of other surveillance schemes.
For example, a project called "Boundless Informant" tracks and analyzes the amount of data collected in every country in the world. This means that the N.S.A. is not only spying on U.S. citizens, but also on people in other countries around the world.
These revelations have put tremendous pressure on the United States**. On the one hand, there has been a significant decline in the trust of the American public, who have raised serious questions about their privacy and surveillance practices.
On the other hand, the international community is outraged and disappointed by the actions of the United States, which has had a considerable impact on US diplomatic relations.
Edward Deng's actions sparked widespread social discussion and political controversy in the United States.
According to one survey, about 44 percent of Americans expressed support for Deng's actions, believing that his revelations were crucial for the public to understand them.
Surprisingly, within the Democratic Party, a whopping 39 percent of people approve of Deng's move, reflecting criticism of surveillance activities at both ends of the political spectrum.
* Deng's decision to flee the United States was not without reason. In his opinion, the United States lacks protection for whistleblowers like him. He fears that if he remains in the United States, he could face severe legal sanctions, including long prison sentences.
This concern is not unfounded, as there have been many cases in history where whistleblowers have been severely targeted and retaliated against.
However, even after fleeing the United States, Deng's situation remains difficult. He became the target of a hunt for the United States and its allied countries.
The U.S. has launched an international extradition request against him and has been charged with felony charges of espionage and leakage.
This has severely limited his international movements, and he has been able to seek asylum in a handful of countries.
*Deng's case has attracted the attention of human rights organizations and liberal groups around the world. They believe that Deng is a defender of freedom of expression and freedom of information and should be protected rather than hunted down.
These groups have launched an international campaign in support of Deng, trying to put pressure on the United States to stop the hunt and respect Deng's rights.
*While on the run, Deng also tried to contact several countries to seek asylum. His lawyers and supporters are constantly in communication with these countries in hopes of finding a safe haven.
Deng's fate has become the focus of international political and legal battles, and his personal plight has drawn widespread public attention to the relationship between power, privacy, and freedom of expression.
On June 14, 2013, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) formally indicted Edward Deng, charging him with three felonies:Theft of property, unauthorized transmission of national defense information, and intentional transmission of national intelligence to unauthorized persons.
The charges mean that Deng could face decades in prison. Faced with such an accusation, Deng was faced with a difficult choice:Either return home to face possible severe punishment, or seek international asylum and continue his life in exile.
*Deng chose the latter and began his escape journey. He first traveled to Hong Kong and then planned to seek political asylum in Ecuador.
On the way to Moscow, Deng's plans were changed due to the intervention of the United States. The United States** canceled his passport, making it impossible for him to leave Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport.
In this case, ** Deng was stranded in the transit area of the airport for almost a month.
During his stay at the airport, he was in a very difficult situation. Without legal travel documents, he could not officially enter the territory of Russia and could not travel to other countries. His living conditions and legal status became very vague for a time.
During this period, Deng applied for political asylum in several countries, but most of them rejected his request out of consideration for pressure from the United States.
At this critical moment, Deng was helped by Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena. Kucherena is a well-known teacher in Russia, who assists Deng in legal matters and helps him communicate with Russia.
With Kucherena's help, he was finally granted temporary asylum in Russia and officially left the airport on August 1, 2013.
After being granted asylum in Russia, **Deng began his new life in Moscow. His place of residence and specific activities are kept highly secret from the outside world to avoid potential security threats.
Despite living in a foreign country, Deng continued to keep in touch with the outside world through the Internet, making remarks or giving interviews from time to time to defend his positions and principles.
* Deng's life in Russia is not easy. He faced linguistic and cultural challenges, as well as constant pressure and threats from the United States. His personal safety has always been an important issue, so he has had to take various measures to protect himself.
Nonetheless, Deng said he was pleased to be able to expose the U.S. surveillance program and considered it an important action to defend the public's right to know and privacy.
Today, Eduard Deng has found a new balance in his life in Russia. He lives with his wife, Lindsey Mills, and their children, and despite being in a foreign country, they strive to create a sense of family warmth and tranquility.
* Although Deng's life is far from the tension and uncertainty of his previous time in the United States, he has remained concerned and engaged in global political and privacy issues.
Deng is active on social media, often expressing his views on the current international situation and defending his right to privacy.
He continues to make an impact on the public arena by commenting on issues such as global surveillance, data protection, and cybersecurity.
Although he no longer reveals secrets as often as he used to, he remains an important voice in the discussion of privacy and transparency.
*Deng uses a variety of ways to make ends meet. His main income** includes public speaking, publishing books, and giving interviews. His speeches often focus on issues such as privacy, surveillance, and civil liberties, attracting the attention of audiences around the world.
In addition, Deng's books also provide a window into his personal experiences and opinions, increasing his popularity and influence.
Financially, Deng also has the support of fans and supporters. Many supporters have donated to him through cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin to help him stay afloat and continue his activities.
This financial support has somewhat alleviated the financial pressure on his life in Russia and allowed him to continue to follow and engage with issues that are important to him.
* Deng's life is relatively peaceful, but he is still under the watchful eye of the United States. Details of his place of residence and daily life are kept strictly secret to protect him and his family from potential threats.
*Although far from his former life and cultural background, Deng gradually adapted and established his own way of life in Russia.
Reference: "American Traitors".