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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| NSA leaks: US charges Edward Snowden with spying | NSA leaks: US charges Edward Snowden with spying |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation. | The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation. |
| The charges against ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden include espionage and theft of government property. | The charges against ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden include espionage and theft of government property. |
| In May, Mr Snowden fled to Hong Kong after leaking details of a programme to monitor phone and internet data. | In May, Mr Snowden fled to Hong Kong after leaking details of a programme to monitor phone and internet data. |
| The US is also reported to be preparing an extradition request. | The US is also reported to be preparing an extradition request. |
| His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. | His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. |
| The criminal complaint has been lodged with a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia and a provisional arrest warrant had been issued, court documents show. | |
| Mr Snowden was charged with "Theft of Government Property", "Unauthorized communication of National Defense Information Information" and "Willful Communication of Classified Communications Intelligence". | |
| The BBC's Katy Watson in Washington says the move shows how seriously the US administration is taking the issue. | |
| Mr Snowden's leaks led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under an NSA programme known as Prism. | Mr Snowden's leaks led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under an NSA programme known as Prism. |
| Mr Snowden has also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks. | Mr Snowden has also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks. |
| He said he had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress. | He said he had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress. |
| The leaks have been a severe embarrassment for President Barack Obama's administration. | The leaks have been a severe embarrassment for President Barack Obama's administration. |
| US officials have since launched a robust defence of the practice by US intelligence agencies of gathering telephone and internet data from private users around the world. | US officials have since launched a robust defence of the practice by US intelligence agencies of gathering telephone and internet data from private users around the world. |
| They say Prism cannot be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the US, and that it is supervised by judges. | They say Prism cannot be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the US, and that it is supervised by judges. |
| Earlier this week the head of the NSA, Gen Keith Alexander, told Congress that it had helped to thwart terror attacks. | Earlier this week the head of the NSA, Gen Keith Alexander, told Congress that it had helped to thwart terror attacks. |