Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden joined a public question-and-answer session with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow via video.
Snowden asked Putin if Russia had similar surveillance programs as the United States–referring to the mass collection and storage of data from individuals around the world.
Putin explained that any intelligence operations were strictly regulated by Russian law, and required court permission to spy on an individual.
Putin said that Russian special forces did use surveillance to thwart terrorists and criminals, but that it was regulated.
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