In 2013, Edward Snowden, portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, arranges a secret meeting in Hong Kong with documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras, played by Melissa Leo, and journalist Glenn Greenwald, brought to life by Zachary Quinto. During this critical rendezvous, they engage in discussions about releasing the sensitive information that Snowden possesses, revealing the illegal mass surveillance operations conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA).
The backdrop begins in 2004, when Snowden undergoes basic training after enlisting in the U.S. Army with aspirations to advance into the Special Forces. However, a tibia fracture leads to an administrative discharge, prompting him to seek alternative ways to serve his country. He then applies to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and navigates through the rigorous screening process. Even though his initial answers fall short, Deputy Director Corbin O'Brian, played by Rhys Ifans, takes a chance on him, considering the extraordinary circumstances of the times.
Soon, Snowden finds himself at "The Hill," where he is trained in cyber warfare. He becomes acquainted with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows for warrant requests that bypass the Fourth Amendment rights of American citizens. Each trainee, including Snowden, is challenged to build a covert communication network within eight hours; impressively, he completes it in just 38 minutes, capturing O'Brian's attention.
In the midst of his training, he meets Lindsay Mills, portrayed by Shailene Woodley, through a dating site. Their relationship flourishes despite significant political differences. By 2007, Snowden embarks on his first assignment abroad in Geneva, taking Mills with him, as he partners with Gabriel Sol (played by Ben Schnetzer), who has extensive experience in electronic surveillance. Through Gabriel, Snowden's eyes are opened to the questionable ethics behind their work, especially when they discover that the U.S. government can access not only public online data but also private information through personal devices.
As moral dilemmas mount, Snowden resigns from the CIA after witnessing the misuse of governmental power in coercing information from innocent individuals. Later, he accepts a position with the NSA in Japan, initially under the guise of developing a program named "Epic Shelter" designed to back up vital data during emergencies. Yet, he soon uncovers alarming practices used by the NSA in collaboration with allied countries, such as implanting malware to control crucial infrastructures if nations were to turn against the U.S. This troubling nature of his work strains his relationship with Mills, prompting her to return to her family in Maryland.
Snowden learns that the NSA possesses the capability to track the digital footprints of virtually every individual globally. In one operation, the surveillance on a single person can extend to over 2.8 million citizens—most of whom are not criminals but merely ordinary people.
Three months later, having left the NSA, Snowden rekindles his relationship with Mills back in Maryland and takes on a consulting role with the CIA. During a hunting excursion, O'Brian discusses an operation linked to countering Chinese hackers, revealing the CIA's strategy in Oahu. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, Mills endorses his participation in the operation, believing the Hawaiian environment might benefit his health.
As Snowden begins work in "The Tunnel," a repurposed World War II bunker used for sophisticated electronic monitoring, he discovers that "Epic Shelter" is used to supply real-time data for U.S. drone pilots launching lethal strikes against terror suspects in Afghanistan. The mounting pressure from combating cyber threats compels Snowden to stop his epilepsy medication, causing friction with Mills.
Disillusioned by his role in these operations, Snowden devises a plan to smuggle a micro-SD card loaded with sensitive data out of the office, cleverly hidden inside a Rubik's Cube. After faking illness to leave, he advises Mills to return to Maryland before contacting Poitras and Greenwald to finalize their upcoming meeting.
With the assistance of journalist Ewen MacAskill (Tom Wilkinson), Snowden's revelations are shared with the world on June 5, 2013, resulting in a series of significant exposés. Following the leaks, he is secretly escorted out of Hong Kong bound for Latin America via Russia. Unfortunately, the U.S. government revokes his passport, leaving him stranded in Moscow. Eventually, he secures asylum for three years, with Mills joining him later on. Committed to activism, Snowden continues his fight for transparency and justice.
