Former Vice President Al Gore Says Snowden Provided An ‘Important Service’, Not A Traitor

When it comes to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, opinions vary, with some people viewing him a traitor to the U.S. and others viewing him as a hero for shining a light on the shadowy practices of the government.

Former vice president Al Gore is on record with his take on Snowden, and although he wouldn’t specifically say that he’s a whistleblower, he did make it clear that he didn’t believe Snowden was a traitor. “What he revealed in the course of violating important laws included violations of the US constitution that were way more serious than the crimes he committed,” he told the Guardian.

Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden (Credit: The Guardian)

Further, Gore said that what Snowden did was “an important service”. He also addressed the problem we’re facing with the NSA and Internet companies, suggesting that tech companies should work with the public to develop a “digital Magna Carta” that protects the freedoms of all involved.

Said Gore, “They need to pay attention to correcting some of these gross abuses of individual privacy that are ongoing in the business sphere.”

The debates surrounding the Snowden leaks are as important as they are contested, but having a former VP weigh in on the issue certainly has sway over where things could go.