The response on social media to the unveiling of NSA’s biggest intelligence leak source, Edward Snowden, has been divided with some calling him a traitor, however the response to his coming out has been overwhelmingly positive, with the majority calling him a hero.
According to Buzzfeed, a technology platform, the current numbers on Twitter of those calling Snowden a hero outnumbers 30-1 to those calling him a traitor.
There is currently a crowdfunding campaign for Snowden [1] to "reward this type of extremely courageous behaviour", which has so far raised 3,478 US dollars.
Supporters have also started a White House petition [2] asking for a "full, free, and absolute pardon", with 4,510 signatures collected at the moment.
The whistleblower is trending on Twitter both under his full name and his surname.
To the Hong Kong government: This is your opportunity to be remembered as a place of good. Grant Edward Snowden asylum and protect him.
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) June 9, 2013 [3]
How much time before Interpol issues a Red Notice on Edward Snowden? That might prevent him from flying out of Hong Kong.
— Nicholas Bequelin 林伟 (@Bequelin) June 10, 2013 [4]
Hong Kong?!?! #Snowden [5] holed up in one of world's most expensive cities with extradition treaty to the US? Who's paying the bills?
— Shai Oster (@beijingscribe) June 10, 2013 [6]
Edward Snowden’s view that Hong Kong has “a spirited commitment to free speech” raises some doubts about the quality of US intelligence.
— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) June 9, 2013 [7]
Tweets about "edward snowden hero" [8] Tweets about "edward snowden traitor" [9]
Edward Snowden held down a $200,000 a year job in Hawaii for protecting your #Privacy [10] , we appreciate his courage! #Respect [11] | #Prism [12] #NSA [13]
— Anonymous (@AnonOpsLegion) June 9, 2013 [14]
One has 3 weeks to disappear. Iceland is one's ostensible final destination. Why stop and stay in Hong Kong w/ so much time? #snowden [15]
— Wieland (@lawscribe) June 10, 2013 [16]
#Snowden [17] needs to reveal the detail on NSA spying on all other nations if he wants to generate real global pressure. Broad stats not enough.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 10, 2013 [18]
Thousands crowd the waterfront in Hong Kong to bid farewell to the floating duck pic.twitter.com/1OMXmaq1HE [19] (@AFP [20])” / Is Snowden in there?
— Michael Shure (@michaelshure) June 9, 2013 [21]
Oh my Snowden is in Hong Kong? China's going to have a field day with this. #reversewanglijun [22]
— Ben Lehman (@balehman) June 10, 2013 [23]
@comradewong [24] Maybe he is running round the halls of Chungking Mansions wearing a raincoat and sunglasses like in Chungking Express #Snowden [17]
— Yining Su (@YiningSu) June 10, 2013 [25]