University of Toronto Creates Online Database of Leaked Snowden Documents

The University of Toronto, in partnership with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), has created an online searchable database of every document leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden that has been subsequently been published in the media. The Snowden Digital Surveillance Archive aims to “provide a tool that would facilitate citizen, researcher and journalist access to these important documents.”

Edward Snowden, a former NSA data analyst, leaked documents related to massive and pervasive illegal global surveillance programs run by the US National Security Agency (NSA) in conjunction with UK intelligence service GCHQ.

The CJFE is an organisation that “monitors, defends and reports on free expression and access to information in Canada and abroad.” The creation of the Snowden Archive is part of its remit to promote “free media as essential to a fair and open society” and the “free expression rights of all people”.

“We are extremely proud to launch the Snowden Archive as a tool for Canadians, and the world, to better understand the scope and scale of mass surveillance programs,” said CJFE Executive Director Tom Henheffer in a press release. “We believe this tool is just the start of many important stories to come, and hope this will help the public engage in conversation about government surveillance practices.”

The archive allows users to search by the following criteria:

• Agency that created the document in question;
• Journalist and media outlet that first broke the story from the document;
• Full text of the document;
• Keywords, surveillance program names and more.

Source: Canadian Newswire