If I could rep you I could, unfortunately you get repped too much by me already apparently, and it won't let me.
It would seem the left and the right of the political spectrum are becoming more polarized in the western world in general and the English speaking world in particular, and populists of both extremes* are starting to become the only option people will take.
And by whom? The Putin funded EU radicals, and by the... What was the word? Useful Idiots, like Assalange, and Snowden, and anyone who stupid enough to get in the same boat where these kind of people sitting. How he influencing them? Pretty easy to throw some rubber bone to the rebellious i had enough of the whole world idiots, in the form of anti power, anti government anti western nonsense. Shreddog Is a prime example of these kind of losers, So as Anonymus... How you can influence them? Don't take too much! Just some moles in Putin's payroll, Some paid comment trolls, also paid by putin, or doing their dumb crap out of conviction. And a lot of misinformation, by the russian propaganda portals, which this dumb rebellious morons belíve it without thinking, because they are only want to do one thing! Rebel against the leading elite, and love everything which pushes the towards these direction. The joke? All of these happened before! Hippie cult In america. and the 60'S generation in europe.
How he influence Assalange? Pretty easy! He is used unknowingly to deliver the "secrets" which "leaked" to him trough uncontrollable secret channels. All of these is just half truth, and only the things which hurts the west but NEVER!!! Russia. That poor fool really thinks he is a freedom fighter a hero, but in truth? He is nothing more, just a puppet unaware of the games what he begin used.
Creating rifts just as i said. So he can tear apart, weaken the whole Eu and western world before it's really born.
Edit; In the matter of fact, they are the other reason, why surveillance is necessary, the slimy worms imagining themselves to heroes, and using the most disgusting methods, to reach their goals.
The government need some methods, to ferret them out.
because honestly? The way i see, is the likes of them whom abusing the secrets found it's way to his hands, and not the government! Most of the time, te government using this to fight crime and terrorism fend off other nations espionage activity. (And yes to espionage too! this cannot be nedied) But what for Assalange and his kind using this? For biased, personal reason, to hurt the ones, whom he don't like it, like Hillary... They are not good secret keepers/owners.
