Snowden has revealed the names of the famous Internet and phone companies such as Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple, AOL, YouTube, and Verizon and has accused them for opening their servers for the N.S.A. to monitor millions of Americans. Fearing the possible trust decreasing among their customers, most of these companies rushed to deny and cancel this accusation. The Facebook chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, elucidates for The Next Web, "Protecting the privacy of our users and their data is a top priority for Facebook. We do not provide any government organization with direct access to Facebook servers" (Sullivan). Thus, the US government and the companies involved in the spying share a negative view about Snowden and consider him a traitor. .
Many Americans and people around the world see Snowden as a hero who has performed a great public service. The American Civil Liberties Union has published a survey of KRC Research in ten different countries around the world, including United States. The survey shows that, "78 to 86 percent in Europe and 56 percent in United States of millennials have positive opinions of Snowden"(International Poll). They all share the same opinion that Snowden deserves better than a life of exile as he left his luxurious life in Hawaii, his salary of two hundred thousand dollar, and his girlfriend in order to reveal the abuses of his company for the entire world. They also share the hope that United States government offers him clemency and allows him to return home, or at least reduces the punishment. Furthermore, after Snowden's leak, numerous protestations around the world took to streets to express respect, sympathy, and support for Snowden in his distress. In effect, Snowden's words to The Guardian explaining his sacrifice of his previous life because of the public welfare have made him a hero in the eyes of many people around the world.
