Edward Snowden To Speak At Roskilde

Roskilde picks a new mantra every year. Speakers at the 2016 edition will address on digital surveillance, human rights, privacy, equality, freedom of speech and the current refugee crisis that hit Europe.

Edward Snowden, who is currently living in exile in Russia, will join the debate via live stream on Tuesday, June 28. According to Roskilde’s Christina Bilde, there was no one else who showed the citizens of the world how their human rights are being treated like Edward Snowden did.

“It’s also true for a small country like Denmark, where surveillance in the public sphere and on social media is challenging privacy. Where we start questioning the rights to freedom of movement in the light of the treatment of refugees, and where the right to free speech is highly contested.”

Bilde hopes Snowden’s remarks will inspire people to reflect on these issues.

Roskilde takes place from June 25 to July 2 in the Danish city of the same name. It is headlined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Neil Young + The Promise of the Real and LCD Soundsystem. Organizers are expecting 100,000 people in the festival’s 45th year.