If I am traitor, who did I betray? I gave all my information to the American public, to American journalists who are reporting on American issues. If they see that as treason, I think people really need to consider who they think they're working for. The public is supposed to be their boss, not their enemy.

The rule of law doesn't mean the police are in charge, but that we all answer to the same laws.

I've been a spy for almost all of my adult life - I don't like being in the spotlight.

I think the public still isn't aware of the frequency with which the cyber-attacks, as they're being called in the press, are being used by governments around the world, not just the US.

When people are talking about cyber weapons, digital weapons, what they really mean is a malicious program that's used for a military purpose. A cyber weapon could be something as simple as an old virus from 1995 that just happens to still be effective if you use it for that purpose.

You can't come up against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk.

I don't want to live in a society that does these sort of things.