Edward Snowden, who publicized documents revealing U.S. government surveillance on a massive scale, will appear live via video link from Moscow at a forum in Honolulu on Feb. 14.

Snowden, now in exile in Russia, was an intelligence analyst working on Oahu before he leaked a trove of classified documents to the press in 2013. He chose to reveal his identity.

He and his attorney, Ben Wizner, will have a conversation focused on the question "Can Democracy Survive Secrecy?" at the Davis Levin First Amendment Conference, sponsored by the ACLU of Hawaii Foundation. Their discussion will follow the screening of the award-winning documentary, "Citizenfour."

Snowden’s disclosures kicked off fierce debate in this country and abroad over the National Security Agency’s surveillance of Internet and phone communications of American citizens and foreigners. He has been charged under the Espionage Act. 

Avi Soifer, dean of the University of Hawaii law school, will moderate the forum. Wisner is the director of the National ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. 

The event will be at the Hawaii Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, and available by phone at 808-522-5906 or email to office@acluhawaii.org or mail to P.O. Box 3410, Honolulu, HI 96801.

The forum is also expected to be simulcast live on Olelo Community Television and other community media stations statewide. 

The event will be at the Hawaii Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, and available by phone at 808-522-5906 or email to office@acluhawaii.org or mail to P.O. Box 3410, Honolulu, HI 96801.