Lauge Risom Koch 
Russian state television has used comments from Edward Snowden to bolster FSB claims that Western intelligence agencies exploit major technology companies to monitor Russian officials.
Russian state television has used comments from Edward Snowden in a report supporting claims by the Federal Security Service (FSB) that Western intelligence agencies are using global technology companies to monitor Russian officials.
The broadcast forms part of a broader Russian campaign targeting foreign technology infrastructure and raising concerns about the security of Western-made digital products.
State media claims
According to United24Media, citing reporting from Agents Media, a report aired on the state-owned Rossiya-1 channel alleged that companies including Microsoft, Apple and Google cooperate with US intelligence agencies to collect information from users.
The broadcast echoed a recent FSB statement claiming that foreign intelligence services were using the infrastructure of major international technology firms to intercept data and monitor communications involving Russian officials.
Cloudflare and Fastly were specifically identified in the report as part of what Russian authorities described as a foreign surveillance network.
No evidence supporting the allegations was presented during the broadcast.
Snowden’s role
Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who received Russian citizenship in 2022, appeared on the broadcast to discuss global data collection practices.
“The largest telecommunications companies all over the world are building the basic internet and telephone networks that move your messages from your gadgets into the world,” Snowden said.
“Most of the data is transmitted in an unencrypted form, which means your communication from the electronic sphere’s point of view is naked.”
Snowden also referenced the NSA’s Prism surveillance program, which he exposed in 2013.
“The most important thing is […] the fact that the manufacturers of the most important operating systems in the world for our devices, Microsoft, Apple, Google were partners in the Prism program.”
AI and surveillance
During the broadcast, Snowden argued that advances in artificial intelligence have transformed modern surveillance practices.
“Instead of ‘first identify the object, and then track it,’ we got ‘first track, then identify the object,’” he said.
“What does this mean? This means that now you can get almost any information about any person without them having committed a crime and without any suspicions regarding them.”
According to United24Media, these comments were presented as evidence supporting Russian concerns about foreign intelligence capabilities.
Security concerns
The report comes amid Russia’s broader efforts to reduce dependence on Western technology following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to United24Media, Russian security services have also taken steps to limit potential vulnerabilities within domestic surveillance systems after concerns that artificial intelligence and networked camera infrastructure could be exploited by hostile intelligence agencies.
The publication noted that Russian authorities have increasingly portrayed foreign technology products and internet infrastructure as national security risks as tensions with the West continue.
Sources: United24Media
