Snowden

In 2004, Edward Snowden joins the U.S. Army with hopes of advancing into the Special Forces. However, a tibia fracture leads to his administrative discharge, forcing him to reevaluate his options for serving his country.

After his discharge, Snowden applies to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and goes through a tough screening process. Despite initially falling short, Deputy Director Corbin O'Brian sees potential in him and decides to bring him on board.

Snowden trains in cyber warfare at 'The Hill,' where he learns about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He impresses his superiors by completing a challenging task to build a covert communication network in just 38 minutes.

During his training, Snowden meets Lindsay Mills through a dating site. Their relationship grows despite differing political views, and they forge a bond that becomes crucial as Snowden's career progresses.

By 2007, Snowden embarks on his first assignment in Geneva, taking Mills along with him. Here, he partners with Gabriel Sol, who exposes him to the ethical issues surrounding electronic surveillance and government overreach.

Struggling with the ethical implications of his work, Snowden resigns from the CIA after witnessing the misuse of power. This decision marks a turning point in his life as he embarks on a new path at the NSA.

Snowden starts working for the NSA in Japan, initially involved in a project called 'Epic Shelter.' However, he soon uncovers disturbing collaborations where malware is used to control critical infrastructure globally.

In his role at the NSA, Snowden learns about the agency's capability to monitor the digital actions of millions of individuals. He discovers that one surveillance operation can extend to over 2.8 million citizens, raising alarm about privacy violations.

After leaving the NSA, Snowden reunites with Mills in Maryland, taking a consulting role with the CIA. During this time, Mills encourages him to participate in an operation in Oahu, believing it could benefit his recent health diagnosis.

Snowden begins working in 'The Tunnel,' a repurposed World War II bunker for electronic monitoring. He discovers that the data from 'Epic Shelter' is being used to assist drone pilots in targeted strikes in Afghanistan.

As pressure mounts from the operations he is involved in, Snowden decides to stop taking his epilepsy medication. This decision leads to further strain on his relationship with Mills, causing friction between them.

Disillusioned with his work, Snowden comes up with a plan to smuggle out sensitive information. He cleverly hides a micro-SD card inside a Rubik's Cube and fakes illness to leave the office unnoticed.

After leaving the NSA, Snowden reaches out to journalist Glenn Greenwald and filmmaker Laura Poitras to arrange a meeting. This meeting will be pivotal in sharing the information he has gathered about mass surveillance.

On June 5, 2013, Snowden’s disclosures are published, revealing extensive government surveillance practices. These exposés spark global discussions about privacy and the power of government overreach.

After the leaks, Snowden is escorted out of Hong Kong but soon finds himself stranded in Moscow as the U.S. government revokes his passport. Eventually, he secures asylum for three years, and Mills joins him later.