RUSSIA: The NSA gathers more data on American citizens than it does about foreigners, Edward Snowden has said. During an acceptance speech for a truth-telling prize, the whistleblower attacked NSA head, James Clapper, for lying about US surveillance.

We watch our own people more closely than anyone else in the world, said Edward Snowden, appearing in a live video link at the 11th annual Ridenhour Prizes ceremony in Washington. He was greeted by a standing ovation from the audience when he received the Ridenhour Award for Truth-Telling. During his speech, the whistleblower said he leaked thousands of classified government documents, detailing the NSAs mass surveillance programs because it was the right thing to do, and now I see Im not the only one who felt that way. I thought the most likely outcome would be spending the rest of my life in prison, said Snowden.

He also criticized the Senate and the House Intelligence committees for their lack of oversight on the NSA and the intelligence community. Leveling criticism at the NSAs director, James Clapper, Snowden blasted him for his famous lie during a speech last year.

In a testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee last March, Clapper stated that the NSA did not wittingly gather any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans. It was later revealed in Snowdens documents that the agency does collect metadata indiscriminately from American telephone and internet companies. This prompted Clapper to go back on his statement, admitting it was erroneous in an apology letter to Congress.

When Clapper raised his hand and lied to the American public, was anyone tried? Were any charges brought? Snowden asked. Within 24 hours of going public, I had three charges against me.

The 30year-old former CIA contractor-turned whistleblower is currently residing in Russia, where he was granted temporary asylum last year after he fled the US.

- RUSSIA TODAY

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NSA spies on more US citizens than Russians Snowden