CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Opinion
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
  • Travel
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Fever Dreams
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Confider
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    INNOVATION
    • Science
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      FOOD & BEVERAGE
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Beauty
        • Home
        • Pets
        • Kitchen
        • Fitness
        • I'm Looking For
        COUPONS
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • DoorDash Promo Codes
        • H&M Coupons
        • Hotwire Promo Codes
        • Wine.com Discounts
        • Vitacost Coupons
        • Spanx Promo Codes
        • StubHub Promo Codes
        BEST PICKS
        • Best VPNs
        • Best Gaming PCs
        • Best Air Fryers
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        HOMEPAGE

        NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Is a Hero, According to Daily Beast Readers

        Beast Poll

        Did Edward Snowden help his country—or betray it? Should the NSA and its surveillance programs be reined in? We asked, and you answered. See the results of our reader poll.

        Sam Schlinkert

        Ben Blackman

        Updated Jul. 11, 2017 10:15PM ET / Published Jun. 10, 2013 6:31PM ET 

        Mario Tama/Getty Images,Mario Tama

        Is Edward Snowden, who leaked the NSA documents, a hero or a traitor?

        In the wake of revelations about the extent of the NSA’s surveillance program, we polled our readers Monday on The Daily Beast to see what they think about Edward Snowden, the contractor who has acknowledged leaking the data.

        In the poll, which was in all Daily Beast articles about Snowden and had roughly 200 participants, 66 percent of Daily Beast readers said they believe Snowden is a hero. Just 27 percent of readers said the 29-year-old Booz Allen staffer is a traitor.

        In our previous call to readers for thoughts about the scandal, which ran over the weekend, many approved of the government’s spying in the name of stopping terrorism. “They’re not out to get me. They’re out to get them!” wrote Larry from Pennsylvania.

        In Monday’s poll, we asked readers if they believe it is OK for the government to spy if they believe they have nothing to hide. Just 12 percent of respondents said “yes.”

        Asked if they were surprised at the extent of the surveillance program, just 31 percent said they were. However, a solid majority, 80 percent, said they think the NSA’s programs should be reined in. (Of those who were surprised by the extent of the NSA’s programs, 98 percent of respondents said the NSA should be reined in.)

        What do you think?

        Is Edward Snowden a hero? Are you surprised by the extent of the spying? Should the NSA’s surveillance programs be reined in?

        Our poll can still be found to the right of this story, and we’ll update this article if the numbers change drastically in the coming days.

        READ THIS LIST

        DAILY BEAST
        • Cheat Sheet
        • Politics
        • Crime
        • Entertainment
        • Media
        • World
        • Innovation
        • U.S. News
        • Scouted
        • Travel
        • Subscription
        • Crossword
        • Newsletters
        • Podcasts
        • About
        • Contact
        • Tips
        • Jobs
        • Advertise
        • Help
        • Privacy
        • Code of Ethics & Standards
        • Diversity
        • Terms & Conditions
        • Copyright & Trademark
        • Sitemap
        • Best Picks
        • Coupons:
        • Coupons:
        • Walmart Promo Codes
        • HP Coupon Codes
        • Chewy Promo Codes
        • Ulta Coupons
        • NordVPN Coupons
        • JCPenny Coupons
        • Vistaprint Coupons
        • Samsung Promo Coupons
        • Home Depot Coupons
        • Office Depot Coupons
        • eBay Coupons
        • Ashley Furniture Promo Codes
        © 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC