IMMI, International Modern Media Institute Hringbraut 113, 101 Reykjavk, Iceland info@immi.is / http://www.immi.

is

9.June2013 Reykjavk,IcelandandSanFrancisco,California Forimmediaterelease

OverthelastfewdaysweattheInternationalModernMediaInstitutehavewatchedalongsidethe restoftheworldastheUSgovernmentsenormousencroachmentsonprivacyandinformation securityhavebeenexposedinthemedia.Theseexposureshaveverifiedourgreatestfearsaboutthe stateofglobalintelligencegathering,andyetagainhighlightedtheneedforstrongprivacyprotections andgovernmenttransparency. TonighttheidentityofEdwardSnowden,thebravewhistleblowerwhoexposedtheseclandestine projectsformonitoringtheworldspopulation,wasrevealedinaninterview,whereitwasimpliedthat hehasaninterestinseekingasyluminIceland.WhereasIMMIisbasedinIceland,andhasworkedon protectionsofprivacy,furtheranceofgovernmenttransparency,andtheprotectionofwhistleblowers, wefeelitisourdutytooffertoassistandadviseMr.Snowdentothegreatestofourability. WearecurrentlyattemptingtogetintouchwithMr.Snowdentoconfirmthatthisishiswilland discussthedetailsofhisasylumrequest.Ournextstepwillbetoassessthesecurityimplicationsof asylum,asitispossiblethatIcelandmaynotbethebestlocation,dependingonvariousquestions regardingthelegalframeworkalloftheseissueswillbetakenintoaccount.Wearealreadyworking ondetailingthelegalprotocolsrequiredtoapplyforasylum,andwilloverthecourseoftheweekbe seekingameetingwiththenewlyappointedinteriorministerofIceland,Mrs.HannaBirna Kristjnsdttir,todiscusswhetheranasylumrequestcanbeprocessedinaswiftmanner,shouldsuch anapplicationbemade. Induecoursewewillreleasefurtherstatementsasusefulandnecessary.

BirgittaJnsdttir ChairmanoftheBoard birgitta@immi.is/+3546928884 (PST/UTC7)

SmriMcCarthy ExecutiveDirector smari@immi.is/+3546622701 (UTC)