Papers that Published Leaked NSA Files Awarded Pulitzer - East Idaho News
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Papers that Published Leaked NSA Files Awarded Pulitzer

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GETTY 41514 EdwardSnowden?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1397551692579Sunshinepress/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The Pulitzer Prize committee on Monday gave The Washington Post and The Guardian its award for public service based on coverage of National Security Agency documents leaked to the papers by former government contractor Edward Snowden, who is wanted by the U.S. for espionage.

The Post and Guardian were given the Pulitzer for “authoritative and insightful reports that helped the public understand how the disclosures fit into the larger framework of national security.”

The documents Snowden leaked to the papers contained information of the NSA collecting phone records of millions of Americans as well as Internet data of people living abroad.

Due to the exposure of the NSA’s activities, President Obama last month proposed an end to the bulk collection and storage of phone data by the NSA. The president has asked Congress to stop the program and leave the records with phone companies but allow the government access to the “metadata” when needed.

Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia to avoid extradition to the U.S. He has expressed doubts of ever returning, fearing that he would not be granted a fair trial.

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