Edward Snowden, the former contractor for the United States National Security Agency, known for leaking classified information and accused of espionage, made quite a splash on the X social media app on May 2. During his active day on the platform, he expressed his discontent with various individuals, including the current governor of South Dakota and the world’s wealthiest person.
Snowden, a well-known whistleblower, had been living in asylum in Russia until 2022 when he was granted full citizenship in the country. Since his whistleblower incident, he has gained significant media attention and achieved celebrity status, particularly within technology-focused communities. He is renowned for his advocacy on topics related to freedom and privacy.
One of Snowden’s targets during his online tirade was Elon Musk, another prominent figure in the tech industry known for speaking out on matters of freedom. Musk had posted a poll inquiring whether someone who replaces the American flag with another flag should be deported to the country represented by the new flag. Snowden promptly criticized Musk, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and posing a hypothetical scenario involving the replacement of the American flag with one bearing the McDonald’s logo.
Snowden’s criticism seemingly went unanswered by Musk.
In another post, Snowden turned his attention to Bitcoin, issuing what he referred to as his final warning. He stressed the need for privacy at the protocol level in Bitcoin, expressing concern about the shutdown of Wasabi Wallet developer zkSNACKs. Although the exact nature of Snowden’s warning remains unclear, he has long been a supporter and advocate of cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin.
Following his commentary on free speech on X and Bitcoin’s future, Snowden directed his sharp remarks towards South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. The Republican governor faced significant backlash on social and traditional media after excerpts from her forthcoming book revealed that she had shot a 14-month-old puppy in the head. Noem defended her actions, stating that they were lawful and even went as far as describing the puppy as untrainable and dangerous. These comments prompted Snowden to draw a parallel between excessive force in law enforcement and Noem’s policies regarding farm animals.
In his post, Snowden referred to Noem as a “puppy-killer” and sarcastically commented on her defense, suggesting that the police union would claim the puppy was a threat and that Noem feared for her life due to its sudden movement.
Overall, Edward Snowden’s active day on the X social media app showcased his outspoken nature and his willingness to address various issues related to freedom, privacy, and controversial actions taken by public figures.