10 hours ago by Glenn Chapman Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden appears by remote-controlled robot at a TED conference in Vancouver on March 18, 2014 <\/p>\n
The deputy head of the NSA spying agency accused fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden on Thursday of displaying \"amazing arrogance\" in revealing US eavesdropping techniques. <\/p>\n
NSA deputy director Richard Ledgett argued that Snowden, hailed as a hero by many for exposing the vast scope of the National Security Agency's online snooping, had done a disservice to whistleblowers. <\/p>\n
Ledgett was addressing the TED ideas conference through a hastily arranged videolink after Snowden, in a rare appearance from his Russian hideaway, had appeared in similar fashion two days earlier. <\/p>\n
\"We didn't realize that he was going to show up, so kudos to you guys for arranging a nice surprise like that,\" Ledgett said, kicking off a video chat with TED curator Chris Anderson. <\/p>\n
More revelations to come <\/p>\n
Snowden appeared from his Russian exile Tuesday in the form of a remotely-controlled robot that rolled around the TED stage and promised more sensational revelations. <\/p>\n
\"Some of the most important reporting to be done is yet to come,\" he said, his face appearing on a screen borne by the robot. <\/p>\n
Snowden, a former NSA contractor who has been charged in the United States with espionage, sparked a debate in Vancouver over whether he is a traitor or a whistleblower. <\/p>\n
Ledgett said he wanted to weigh in at TED with the NSA perspective since Snowden had, he claimed, mixed \"kernels of truth\" with misleading information. <\/p>\n
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