Snowden to address Europe rights watchdog

AP Edward Snowden will address Europe's human rights watchdog during a hearing on mass surveillance.

Former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden will address Europe's top human rights watchdog during a hearing on mass surveillance this week, the organisation says.

Snowden, who fled to Russia after exposing the surveillance activities of the National Security Agency (NSA), will testify on Tuesday at 1200 GMT (2300 AEDT) to the Council of Europe via a live video link from Moscow, it said in a statement.

"Edward Snowden has triggered a massive public debate on privacy in the internet age," said Pieter Omtzigt of the Council of Europe.

"We hope to ask him what his revelations mean for ordinary users, how they should try to protect their privacy, what kind of restrictions Europe should now impose on state surveillance," Omtzigt added.

The council also hoped to find out more about how the NSA deals with whistleblowers, he said, adding: "I regret that the US administration has not responded positively to our invitation to present its side of the story."

The hearing will also include the former head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, Hansjoerg Geiger, who has proposed a codex to regulate intelligence activities between friendly states.

Earlier attempts by the European Parliament to set up a video hearing with Snowden were rejected over security concerns.

Both institutions are based in the French city of Strasbourg.

Unlike the parliament however, the Council of Europe is not a European Union institution.

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Snowden to address Europe rights watchdog