The united states department of justice filed a LawSuit against Edward Snowden for publishing a book violating the non-disclosure agreements that he was signed with NSA and CIA.
Edward Snowden is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee and National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013. The lawsuit does not stop him in the publication of the book or restrict the publication, it prevents him from receiving payments for the book.
“The United States’ lawsuit does not seek to stop or restrict the publication or distribution of Permanent Record. Rather, under well-established Supreme Court precedent, Snepp v. the United States, the government seeks to recover all proceeds earned by Snowden because of his failure to submit his publication for pre-publication review in violation of his alleged contractual and fiduciary obligations.”
“Edward Snowden has violated an obligation he undertook to the United States when he signed agreements as part of his employment by the CIA and as an NSA contractor,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.
According to the agreements it requires Snowden to submit the book to agencies for a review before publishing, to avoid disclosure of any sensitive information.
The book titled Permanent Record was released on September 17, 2019, it includes the life of Snowden “who grew up online – a man who became a spy, a whistleblower, and, in exile, the Internet’s conscience.”
According to the statement “The United States’ ability to protect sensitive national security, information depends on employees’ and contractors,” based on this lawsuit “the Department of Justice does not tolerate these breaches of the public’s trust. We will not permit individuals to enrich themselves, at the expense of the United States, without complying with their pre-publication review obligations.”
“Intelligence information should protect our nation, not provide personal profit,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
This lawsuit was different from criminal charges that purported for leaking sensitive information, this lawsuit “solely on Snowden’s failure to comply with the clear pre-publication review obligations included in his signed non-disclosure agreements.”
He also released a Privacy Protection app turns your Android phone Into A Security System.