🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 99 (from laksa134)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa099.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.wired.com/story/after-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.wired.com/story/after-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/after-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself\/","crawl_time":1776583269,"first_indexed_time":1568631643,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,wired!www,\/story\/after-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself\/ s443","src_root_hash":"5736512710119187299","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"After 6 Years in Exile, Edward Snowden Explains Himself | WIRED","meta_descriptions":["In a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Sep 16, 2019 10:00 AM\nIn a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists.\nSnowden remains a kind of First Amendment absolutist. “That’s the price of admission to a free society,” he says. “The best response to the worst person is not to fear them but to correct them, not to silence them but to challenge them, to make them better than they were.”\nPhotograph: Baikal\/Alamy\nAll products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and\/or from purchases of products through these links.\nLearn more.\nEdward Snowden, arguably\nthe world’s most famous whistle-blower, is a man who lived behind plenty of pseudonyms before\nputting his true name to his truth-telling\n: When he was first communicating with the journalists who would reveal his top-secret NSA leaks, he used the names Citizenfour, Cincinnatus, and Verax—Latin for “truthful” and a knowing allusion to Julian Assange’s old hacker handle Mendax, the teller of lies.\nThe Big Story is exclusive to subscribers.\nStart your free trial to access The Big Story and all premium newsletters.—cancel anytime.\nSTART FREE TRIAL\nAre you already a subscriber?\n \nLog In\nThe Big Story is exclusive to subscribers.\n \nSTART FREE TRIAL\nAndy Greenberg\nis a senior writer for WIRED covering hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance. He’s the author of the books\nTracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency\nand\nSandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers\n. His books ...\nRead More\nGet\nThe Big Story\nin Your Inbox\nThe most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite writers.\nRead More","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/after-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself\/#main-content)\n\n[SECURITY](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/security\/)\n\n[POLITICS](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/politics\/)\n\n[THE BIG STORY](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/big-story\/)\n\n[BUSINESS](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/business\/)\n\n[SCIENCE](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/science\/)\n\n[CULTURE](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/culture\/)\n\n[REVIEWS](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/gear\/)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/v2\/offers\/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_NAV_CTA_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB)\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/newsletter?sourceCode=hamburgernav)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/v2\/offers\/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_NAV_CTA_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB)\n\n[Security](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/security\/)\n\n[Politics](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/politics\/)\n\n[The Big Story](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/big-story\/)\n\n[Business](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/business\/)\n\n[Science](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/science\/)\n\n[Culture](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/culture\/)\n\n[Reviews](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/gear\/)\n\nMore\n\n[The Big Interview](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/the-big-interview\/)[Magazine](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/magazine\/)[Events](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/wired-events\/)[WIRED Insider](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/collection\/wiredinsider\/)[WIRED Consulting](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/wired-consulting\/)\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/newsletter?sourceCode=hamburgernav)\n\n[Podcasts](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/podcasts\/)\n\n[Video](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/video\/)\n\n[Livestreams](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/livestreams)\n\n[Merch](https:\/\/shop.wired.com\/)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/search\/)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/auth\/initiate?redirectURL=%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F&source=VERSO_NAVIGATION)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/auth\/initiate?redirectURL=%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F&source=VERSO_NAVIGATION)\n\n[Andy Greenberg](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/author\/andy-greenberg\/)\n\n[The Big Story](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/big-story)\n\nSep 16, 2019 10:00 AM\n# After 6 Years in Exile, Edward Snowden Explains Himself\n\nIn a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists.\n\n![Snowden sitting on a couch](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/5d7d4304924fc50008955880\/3:2\/w_2560%2Cc_limit\/Backchannel-Snowden-Q&A-JA1G3M.jpg)\n\nSnowden remains a kind of First Amendment absolutist. “That’s the price of admission to a free society,” he says. “The best response to the worst person is not to fear them but to correct them, not to silence them but to challenge them, to make them better than they were.”Photograph: Baikal\/Alamy\n\nSave this story\n\nSave this story\n\nAll products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and\/or from purchases of products through these links. [Learn more.](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/affiliate-link-policy\/)\n\nEdward Snowden, arguably the world’s most famous whistle-blower, is a man who lived behind plenty of pseudonyms before [putting his true name to his truth-telling](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/2014\/08\/edward-snowden\/): When he was first communicating with the journalists who would reveal his top-secret NSA leaks, he used the names Citizenfour, Cincinnatus, and Verax—Latin for “truthful” and a knowing allusion to Julian Assange’s old hacker handle Mendax, the teller of lies.\n\nThe Big Story is exclusive to subscribers.\n\n![Subscription Offer](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69404c8a6f1488718f54b694\/original\/pass\/Second%20WIRED%20GIf.gif?format=original)\n\nStart your free trial to access The Big Story and all premium newsletters.—cancel anytime.\n\n[START FREE TRIAL](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/v2\/offers\/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_PAYWALL_IN_CONTENT_BARRIER_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB&redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F)\n\nAre you already a subscriber? [Log In](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/go\/failsafe?redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F)\n\nThe Big Story is exclusive to subscribers. [START FREE TRIAL](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/v2\/offers\/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_PAYWALL_IN_CONTENT_BARRIER_BAR_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB&redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F)\n\n[![](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/65e8363c8aa58009f1f54a9b\/1:1\/w_90%2Cc_limit\/Andy%2520Greenberg.jpg)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/author\/andy-greenberg\/)\n\n[Andy Greenberg](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/author\/andy-greenberg\/) is a senior writer for WIRED covering hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance. He’s the author of the books *Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency* and *Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers*. His books ... [Read More](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/author\/andy-greenberg)\n\nSenior Writer\n\nTopics[Edward Snowden](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/edward-snowden\/)\n\n### Get *The Big Story* in Your Inbox\nThe most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite writers.\n\nRead More\n\n[![Using a VPN May Subject You to NSA Spying](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c4791716bb3ee95a674db0\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/using-a-vpn-may-subject-you-to-nsa-spying\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[Using a VPN May Subject You to NSA Spying](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/using-a-vpn-may-subject-you-to-nsa-spying\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nUS lawmakers are pressing Tulsi Gabbard to reveal whether using a VPN can strip Americans of their constitutional protections against warrantless surveillance.\n\nDell Cameron\n\n[![CBP Facility Codes Sure Seem to Have Leaked Via Online Flashcards](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c6c4fb24f02ff7dc20961d\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/cbp-facility-codes-sure-seem-to-have-leaked-via-online-flashcards\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[CBP Facility Codes Sure Seem to Have Leaked Via Online Flashcards](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/cbp-facility-codes-sure-seem-to-have-leaked-via-online-flashcards\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nThe Quizlet flashcards, which WIRED found through basic Google searches, seem to include sensitive information about gate security at Customs and Border Protection locations.\n\nSammy Sussman\n\n[![A Top Democrat Is Urging Colleagues to Support Trump’s Spy Machine](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69bd71b7a3d17bb655096b0a\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/a-top-democrat-is-urging-colleagues-to-support-trumps-spy-machine\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[A Top Democrat Is Urging Colleagues to Support Trump’s Spy Machine](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/a-top-democrat-is-urging-colleagues-to-support-trumps-spy-machine\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nCongressman Jim Himes claims a sweeping surveillance authority should stay intact because he hasn't seen abuses by Kash Patel's FBI, according to internal messaging obtained by WIRED.\n\nDell Cameron\n\n[![Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c2bfbc5854d831d24bbc07\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/andurils-real-war-is-with-itself\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/andurils-real-war-is-with-itself\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nFrom drones to missiles to submarines, the \\$30.5 billion defense startup wants to transform how the tools of war are made. It’s not all going as planned.\n\nParesh Dave\n\n[![Europe Gets Serious About Age Verification Online](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69d03888fc14fed237317611\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/europe-gets-serious-about-age-verification-online\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[Europe Gets Serious About Age Verification Online](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/europe-gets-serious-about-age-verification-online\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nThe search for an age-verification system that protects user data may begin and end in the EU.\n\nLaura Carrer\n\n[![MyMove Is the US Government’s Shittiest Website](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c44b8aa8ef1ae045a7c51c\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/the-governments-shittiest-website\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[MyMove Is the US Government’s Shittiest Website](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/the-governments-shittiest-website\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nFor more than 30 years, the US Postal Service has sent people who need to change their addresses to MyMove. Experts say the site uses dark patterns to trap visitors in an online purgatory of “deals.”\n\nTodd Feathers\n\n[![That Ex-CIA Agent in All Your Feeds Is After a Pardon From Donald Trump](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c2ea7b141776fd70b33ca4\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/that-ex-cia-agent-in-all-your-feeds-is-after-a-pardon-from-donald-trump\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[That Ex-CIA Agent in All Your Feeds Is After a Pardon From Donald Trump](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/that-ex-cia-agent-in-all-your-feeds-is-after-a-pardon-from-donald-trump\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nJohn Kiriakou went to prison after exposing the CIA's torture program. Now he's going viral as he campaigns to get his name cleared and his pension restored.\n\nMakena Kelly\n\n[![Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c6b32db2e9941fa7bff508\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/your-vape-wants-to-know-how-old-you-are\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/your-vape-wants-to-know-how-old-you-are\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nCompanies hope that biometric age-verification tech in cartridges could put flavored vapes back in business. But it's unlikely to solve the real problems.\n\nBoone Ashworth\n\n[![Your Body Is Betraying Your Right to Privacy](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c1aa958d470e1446eb5d44\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/book-excerpt-your-data-will-be-used-against-you-andrew-guthrie-ferguson\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[Your Body Is Betraying Your Right to Privacy](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/book-excerpt-your-data-will-be-used-against-you-andrew-guthrie-ferguson\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nAttachment to smart devices and biometric surveillance leaves Americans more vulnerable to police searches than ever. Left unchecked it will only get worse.\n\nAndrew Guthrie Ferguson\n\n[![Uncanny Valley: OpenAI and Musk Fight Again; DOJ Mishandles Voter Data; Artemis II Comes Home](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69d6926e086e0b260828bcc2\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/uncanny-valley-podcast-openai-musk-fight-doj-mishandles-voter-data-artemis-ii-comes-home\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[*Uncanny Valley*: OpenAI and Musk Fight Again; DOJ Mishandles Voter Data; Artemis II Comes Home](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/uncanny-valley-podcast-openai-musk-fight-doj-mishandles-voter-data-artemis-ii-comes-home\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nIn this episode, the hosts discuss the fight between OpenAI and Elon Musk, the misuse of voter data, and Artemis II’s moonshot.\n\nBrian Barrett\n\n[![Opposing ICE Might Save the Country. It Could Also Ruin Your Life](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69c5c6fcd03999521bd70374\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/opposing-ice-might-save-the-country-could-also-ruin-your-life\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[Opposing ICE Might Save the Country. It Could Also Ruin Your Life](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/opposing-ice-might-save-the-country-could-also-ruin-your-life\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nFor months, lone vibe coder Rafael Concepcion has obsessively built tools to counter the federal immigration crackdown—pivoting as he’s been outmatched. He’s also lost his job and become a target.\n\nBrendan I. Koerner\n\n[![What's in Hasan Piker's Streaming Starter Pack](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69deb76bc40d39c885aeb5d3\/16:9\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/undefined)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/hasan-pikers-starter-pack\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\n[What's in Hasan Piker's Streaming Starter Pack](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/hasan-pikers-starter-pack\/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1)\n\nThe internet’s most jacked leftist shares the tech and daily rituals that fuel his marathon streams.\n\nBoutayna Chokrane\n\n[![WIRED](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/verso\/static\/wired-us\/assets\/logo-reverse.svg)](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/)\n\nWIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. WIRED: For Future Reference.\n\nMore From WIRED\n\n- [Subscribe](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/subscribe\/)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/newsletter?sourceCode=HeaderAndFooter)\n- [Livestreams](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/livestreams)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/travel\/)\n- [FAQ](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/faq\/)\n- [WIRED Staff](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/wired-staff\/)\n- [WIRED Education](https:\/\/www.wirededucation.com\/)\n- [Editorial Standards](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/wired-on-background-policy\/)\n- [Archive](https:\/\/archive.wired.com\/t\/storefront\/storefront)\n- [RSS](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/rss-feeds\/)\n- [Site Map](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/sitemap\/)\n- [Accessibility Help](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/accessibility-help\/)\n\nReviews and Guides\n\n- [Reviews](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/gear\/)\n- [Buying Guides](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/category\/gear\/buying-guides\/)\n- [Streaming Guides](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/culture-guides\/)\n- [Wearables](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/wearables\/)\n- [Coupons](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/coupons\/)\n- [Gift Guides](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/tag\/gift-guides\/)\n\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/www.condenast.com\/brands\/wired)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/feedback\/)\n- [Manage Account](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/account\/profile)\n- [Jobs](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/wired-jobs\/)\n- [Press Center](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/press\/)\n- [Condé Nast Store](https:\/\/condenaststore.com\/)\n- [User Agreement](https:\/\/www.condenast.com\/user-agreement\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](http:\/\/www.condenast.com\/privacy-policy#privacypolicy)\n- [Your California Privacy Rights](http:\/\/www.condenast.com\/privacy-policy#privacypolicy-california)\n\n© 2026 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. *WIRED* may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. [Ad Choices](http:\/\/www.aboutads.info\/)\n\n###### Select international site\nUnited States\n\n- [Italia](https:\/\/www.wired.it\/)\n- [Japón](https:\/\/wired.jp\/)\n- [Czech Republic & Slovakia](https:\/\/www.wired.cz\/)\n\nYour Privacy Choices","attrs_readable_markdown":"Sep 16, 2019 10:00 AM\n\nIn a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists.\n\n![Snowden sitting on a couch](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/5d7d4304924fc50008955880\/3:2\/w_2560%2Cc_limit\/Backchannel-Snowden-Q&A-JA1G3M.jpg)\n\nSnowden remains a kind of First Amendment absolutist. “That’s the price of admission to a free society,” he says. “The best response to the worst person is not to fear them but to correct them, not to silence them but to challenge them, to make them better than they were.”Photograph: Baikal\/Alamy\n\nAll products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and\/or from purchases of products through these links. [Learn more.](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/about\/affiliate-link-policy\/)\n\nEdward Snowden, arguably the world’s most famous whistle-blower, is a man who lived behind plenty of pseudonyms before [putting his true name to his truth-telling](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/2014\/08\/edward-snowden\/): When he was first communicating with the journalists who would reveal his top-secret NSA leaks, he used the names Citizenfour, Cincinnatus, and Verax—Latin for “truthful” and a knowing allusion to Julian Assange’s old hacker handle Mendax, the teller of lies.\n\nThe Big Story is exclusive to subscribers.\n\n![Subscription Offer](https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/69404c8a6f1488718f54b694\/original\/pass\/Second%20WIRED%20GIf.gif?format=original)\n\nStart your free trial to access The Big Story and all premium newsletters.—cancel anytime.\n\n[START FREE TRIAL](https:\/\/www.wired.com\/v2\/offers\/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_PAYWALL_IN_CONTENT_BARRIER_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB&redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F)\n\nAre you already a subscriber? 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Meta Title	After 6 Years in Exile, Edward Snowden Explains Himself \| WIRED
Meta Description	In a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists.
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Boilerpipe Text	Sep 16, 2019 10:00 AM In a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists. Snowden remains a kind of First Amendment absolutist. “That’s the price of admission to a free society,” he says. “The best response to the worst person is not to fear them but to correct them, not to silence them but to challenge them, to make them better than they were.” Photograph: Baikal/Alamy All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Learn more. Edward Snowden, arguably the world’s most famous whistle-blower, is a man who lived behind plenty of pseudonyms before putting his true name to his truth-telling : When he was first communicating with the journalists who would reveal his top-secret NSA leaks, he used the names Citizenfour, Cincinnatus, and Verax—Latin for “truthful” and a knowing allusion to Julian Assange’s old hacker handle Mendax, the teller of lies. The Big Story is exclusive to subscribers. Start your free trial to access The Big Story and all premium newsletters.—cancel anytime. START FREE TRIAL Are you already a subscriber? Log In The Big Story is exclusive to subscribers. START FREE TRIAL Andy Greenberg is a senior writer for WIRED covering hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance. He’s the author of the books Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency and Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers . His books ... Read More Get The Big Story in Your Inbox The most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite writers. Read More
Markdown	[Skip to main content](https://www.wired.com/story/after-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself/#main-content) [SECURITY](https://www.wired.com/category/security/) [POLITICS](https://www.wired.com/category/politics/) [THE BIG STORY](https://www.wired.com/category/big-story/) [BUSINESS](https://www.wired.com/category/business/) [SCIENCE](https://www.wired.com/category/science/) [CULTURE](https://www.wired.com/category/culture/) [REVIEWS](https://www.wired.com/category/gear/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.wired.com/v2/offers/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_NAV_CTA_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB) [Newsletters](https://www.wired.com/newsletter?sourceCode=hamburgernav) [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.wired.com/v2/offers/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_NAV_CTA_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB) [Security](https://www.wired.com/category/security/) [Politics](https://www.wired.com/category/politics/) [The Big Story](https://www.wired.com/category/big-story/) [Business](https://www.wired.com/category/business/) [Science](https://www.wired.com/category/science/) [Culture](https://www.wired.com/category/culture/) [Reviews](https://www.wired.com/category/gear/) More [The Big Interview](https://www.wired.com/the-big-interview/)[Magazine](https://www.wired.com/magazine/)[Events](https://www.wired.com/tag/wired-events/)[WIRED Insider](https://www.wired.com/collection/wiredinsider/)[WIRED Consulting](https://www.wired.com/tag/wired-consulting/) [Newsletters](https://www.wired.com/newsletter?sourceCode=hamburgernav) [Podcasts](https://www.wired.com/podcasts/) [Video](https://www.wired.com/video/) [Livestreams](https://www.wired.com/livestreams) [Merch](https://shop.wired.com/) [Search](https://www.wired.com/search/) [Sign In](https://www.wired.com/auth/initiate?redirectURL=%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F&source=VERSO_NAVIGATION) [Sign In](https://www.wired.com/auth/initiate?redirectURL=%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F&source=VERSO_NAVIGATION) [Andy Greenberg](https://www.wired.com/author/andy-greenberg/) [The Big Story](https://www.wired.com/category/big-story) Sep 16, 2019 10:00 AM # After 6 Years in Exile, Edward Snowden Explains Himself In a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists. ![Snowden sitting on a couch](https://media.wired.com/photos/5d7d4304924fc50008955880/3:2/w_2560%2Cc_limit/Backchannel-Snowden-Q&A-JA1G3M.jpg) Snowden remains a kind of First Amendment absolutist. “That’s the price of admission to a free society,” he says. “The best response to the worst person is not to fear them but to correct them, not to silence them but to challenge them, to make them better than they were.”Photograph: Baikal/Alamy Save this story Save this story All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. [Learn more.](https://www.wired.com/about/affiliate-link-policy/) Edward Snowden, arguably the world’s most famous whistle-blower, is a man who lived behind plenty of pseudonyms before [putting his true name to his truth-telling](https://www.wired.com/2014/08/edward-snowden/): When he was first communicating with the journalists who would reveal his top-secret NSA leaks, he used the names Citizenfour, Cincinnatus, and Verax—Latin for “truthful” and a knowing allusion to Julian Assange’s old hacker handle Mendax, the teller of lies. The Big Story is exclusive to subscribers. ![Subscription Offer](https://media.wired.com/photos/69404c8a6f1488718f54b694/original/pass/Second%20WIRED%20GIf.gif?format=original) Start your free trial to access The Big Story and all premium newsletters.—cancel anytime. 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[START FREE TRIAL](https://www.wired.com/v2/offers/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_PAYWALL_IN_CONTENT_BARRIER_BAR_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB&redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F) [![](https://media.wired.com/photos/65e8363c8aa58009f1f54a9b/1:1/w_90%2Cc_limit/Andy%2520Greenberg.jpg)](https://www.wired.com/author/andy-greenberg/) [Andy Greenberg](https://www.wired.com/author/andy-greenberg/) is a senior writer for WIRED covering hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance. He’s the author of the books Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency and Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers. His books ... [Read More](https://www.wired.com/author/andy-greenberg) Senior Writer Topics[Edward Snowden](https://www.wired.com/tag/edward-snowden/) ### Get The Big Story in Your Inbox The most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite writers. Read More [![Using a VPN May Subject You to NSA Spying](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c4791716bb3ee95a674db0/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/using-a-vpn-may-subject-you-to-nsa-spying/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [Using a VPN May Subject You to NSA Spying](https://www.wired.com/story/using-a-vpn-may-subject-you-to-nsa-spying/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) US lawmakers are pressing Tulsi Gabbard to reveal whether using a VPN can strip Americans of their constitutional protections against warrantless surveillance. Dell Cameron [![CBP Facility Codes Sure Seem to Have Leaked Via Online Flashcards](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c6c4fb24f02ff7dc20961d/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/cbp-facility-codes-sure-seem-to-have-leaked-via-online-flashcards/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [CBP Facility Codes Sure Seem to Have Leaked Via Online Flashcards](https://www.wired.com/story/cbp-facility-codes-sure-seem-to-have-leaked-via-online-flashcards/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) The Quizlet flashcards, which WIRED found through basic Google searches, seem to include sensitive information about gate security at Customs and Border Protection locations. Sammy Sussman [![A Top Democrat Is Urging Colleagues to Support Trump’s Spy Machine](https://media.wired.com/photos/69bd71b7a3d17bb655096b0a/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/a-top-democrat-is-urging-colleagues-to-support-trumps-spy-machine/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [A Top Democrat Is Urging Colleagues to Support Trump’s Spy Machine](https://www.wired.com/story/a-top-democrat-is-urging-colleagues-to-support-trumps-spy-machine/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) Congressman Jim Himes claims a sweeping surveillance authority should stay intact because he hasn't seen abuses by Kash Patel's FBI, according to internal messaging obtained by WIRED. Dell Cameron [![Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c2bfbc5854d831d24bbc07/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/andurils-real-war-is-with-itself/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound](https://www.wired.com/story/andurils-real-war-is-with-itself/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) From drones to missiles to submarines, the \$30.5 billion defense startup wants to transform how the tools of war are made. It’s not all going as planned. Paresh Dave [![Europe Gets Serious About Age Verification Online](https://media.wired.com/photos/69d03888fc14fed237317611/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/europe-gets-serious-about-age-verification-online/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [Europe Gets Serious About Age Verification Online](https://www.wired.com/story/europe-gets-serious-about-age-verification-online/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) The search for an age-verification system that protects user data may begin and end in the EU. Laura Carrer [![MyMove Is the US Government’s Shittiest Website](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c44b8aa8ef1ae045a7c51c/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/the-governments-shittiest-website/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [MyMove Is the US Government’s Shittiest Website](https://www.wired.com/story/the-governments-shittiest-website/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) For more than 30 years, the US Postal Service has sent people who need to change their addresses to MyMove. Experts say the site uses dark patterns to trap visitors in an online purgatory of “deals.” Todd Feathers [![That Ex-CIA Agent in All Your Feeds Is After a Pardon From Donald Trump](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c2ea7b141776fd70b33ca4/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/that-ex-cia-agent-in-all-your-feeds-is-after-a-pardon-from-donald-trump/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [That Ex-CIA Agent in All Your Feeds Is After a Pardon From Donald Trump](https://www.wired.com/story/that-ex-cia-agent-in-all-your-feeds-is-after-a-pardon-from-donald-trump/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) John Kiriakou went to prison after exposing the CIA's torture program. Now he's going viral as he campaigns to get his name cleared and his pension restored. Makena Kelly [![Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c6b32db2e9941fa7bff508/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/your-vape-wants-to-know-how-old-you-are/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are](https://www.wired.com/story/your-vape-wants-to-know-how-old-you-are/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) Companies hope that biometric age-verification tech in cartridges could put flavored vapes back in business. But it's unlikely to solve the real problems. Boone Ashworth [![Your Body Is Betraying Your Right to Privacy](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c1aa958d470e1446eb5d44/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/book-excerpt-your-data-will-be-used-against-you-andrew-guthrie-ferguson/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [Your Body Is Betraying Your Right to Privacy](https://www.wired.com/story/book-excerpt-your-data-will-be-used-against-you-andrew-guthrie-ferguson/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) Attachment to smart devices and biometric surveillance leaves Americans more vulnerable to police searches than ever. Left unchecked it will only get worse. Andrew Guthrie Ferguson [![Uncanny Valley: OpenAI and Musk Fight Again; DOJ Mishandles Voter Data; Artemis II Comes Home](https://media.wired.com/photos/69d6926e086e0b260828bcc2/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-openai-musk-fight-doj-mishandles-voter-data-artemis-ii-comes-home/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [Uncanny Valley: OpenAI and Musk Fight Again; DOJ Mishandles Voter Data; Artemis II Comes Home](https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-openai-musk-fight-doj-mishandles-voter-data-artemis-ii-comes-home/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) In this episode, the hosts discuss the fight between OpenAI and Elon Musk, the misuse of voter data, and Artemis II’s moonshot. Brian Barrett [![Opposing ICE Might Save the Country. It Could Also Ruin Your Life](https://media.wired.com/photos/69c5c6fcd03999521bd70374/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/opposing-ice-might-save-the-country-could-also-ruin-your-life/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [Opposing ICE Might Save the Country. It Could Also Ruin Your Life](https://www.wired.com/story/opposing-ice-might-save-the-country-could-also-ruin-your-life/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) For months, lone vibe coder Rafael Concepcion has obsessively built tools to counter the federal immigration crackdown—pivoting as he’s been outmatched. He’s also lost his job and become a target. Brendan I. Koerner [![What's in Hasan Piker's Streaming Starter Pack](https://media.wired.com/photos/69deb76bc40d39c885aeb5d3/16:9/w_640%2Cc_limit/undefined)](https://www.wired.com/story/hasan-pikers-starter-pack/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) [What's in Hasan Piker's Streaming Starter Pack](https://www.wired.com/story/hasan-pikers-starter-pack/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc_0e1b01fa-31a4-42e1-81db-0661154c235d_roberta-similarity1) The internet’s most jacked leftist shares the tech and daily rituals that fuel his marathon streams. Boutayna Chokrane [![WIRED](https://www.wired.com/verso/static/wired-us/assets/logo-reverse.svg)](https://www.wired.com/) WIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. 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Readable Markdown	Sep 16, 2019 10:00 AM In a new memoir and interview, the world’s most famous whistle-blower elucidates as never before why he stood up to mass surveillance—and his love for an internet that no longer exists. ![Snowden sitting on a couch](https://media.wired.com/photos/5d7d4304924fc50008955880/3:2/w_2560%2Cc_limit/Backchannel-Snowden-Q&A-JA1G3M.jpg) Snowden remains a kind of First Amendment absolutist. “That’s the price of admission to a free society,” he says. “The best response to the worst person is not to fear them but to correct them, not to silence them but to challenge them, to make them better than they were.”Photograph: Baikal/Alamy All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. [Learn more.](https://www.wired.com/about/affiliate-link-policy/) Edward Snowden, arguably the world’s most famous whistle-blower, is a man who lived behind plenty of pseudonyms before [putting his true name to his truth-telling](https://www.wired.com/2014/08/edward-snowden/): When he was first communicating with the journalists who would reveal his top-secret NSA leaks, he used the names Citizenfour, Cincinnatus, and Verax—Latin for “truthful” and a knowing allusion to Julian Assange’s old hacker handle Mendax, the teller of lies. The Big Story is exclusive to subscribers. ![Subscription Offer](https://media.wired.com/photos/69404c8a6f1488718f54b694/original/pass/Second%20WIRED%20GIf.gif?format=original) Start your free trial to access The Big Story and all premium newsletters.—cancel anytime. [START FREE TRIAL](https://www.wired.com/v2/offers/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_PAYWALL_IN_CONTENT_BARRIER_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB&redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F) Are you already a subscriber? [Log In](https://www.wired.com/go/failsafe?redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F) The Big Story is exclusive to subscribers. [START FREE TRIAL](https://www.wired.com/v2/offers/wira01035?source=Site_0_JNY_WIR_DESKTOP_PAYWALL_IN_CONTENT_BARRIER_BAR_0_US_ACQ_NLI_CONTROL_BIG_STORY_ZZ_ADB&redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fafter-six-years-in-exile-edward-snowden-explains-himself%2F) [![](https://media.wired.com/photos/65e8363c8aa58009f1f54a9b/1:1/w_90%2Cc_limit/Andy%2520Greenberg.jpg)](https://www.wired.com/author/andy-greenberg/) [Andy Greenberg](https://www.wired.com/author/andy-greenberg/) is a senior writer for WIRED covering hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance. He’s the author of the books Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency and Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers. His books ... [Read More](https://www.wired.com/author/andy-greenberg) ### Get The Big Story in Your Inbox The most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite writers. Read More
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