Published on 12:00 AM, March 16, 2014

Snowden is no hero, Says Bill Gates

Snowden is no hero, Says Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates doesn't seem to agree with the hero tag bestowed on National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. In an interview to Rolling Stone, Gates said that he has little admiration for Snowden.
Answering the question as to whether he viewed Snowden as a hero, or a traitor, Gates said, "I think he broke the law, so I certainly wouldn't characterize him as a hero. If he wanted to raise the issues and stay in the country and engage in civil disobedience or something of that kind, or if he had been careful in terms of what he had released, then it would fit more of the model of 'OK."
Gates added, "There has to be a debate. But the specific techniques they use become unavailable if they're discussed in detail. So the debate needs to be about the general notion of under what circumstances should they be allowed to do things."
Microsoft along with Google and Twitter was among the tech companies who lent their support to an anti-spying protest urging Congress to restrict NSA's powers.