James Delahunty
6 Jun 2014 9:15
In an interview with CNBC, Silicon Valley icon and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen claimed NSA leaker Edward Snowden is a textbook traitor.
He made the comment during an interview with CNBC, admitting that he is a distinct minority for criticizing Snowden's actions. "I think most in Silicon Valley would pick the other designation," he said.
Andreessen said that Snowden's revelations have seriously damaged the U.S. tech sector, with a major question mark now hanging over the ability of U.S. firms to sell their products in overseas markets. Other countries have been envious of the U.S. position as leader in the space, he argued, and now Snowden has provided them with an excuse to adopt protectionist policies that favor domestic products under the guise of protecting against surveillance.
"For me obviously he's a traitor," Andreessen said. "If you look up in the encyclopedia 'traitor' there's a picture of Ed Snowden."
Snowden wasn't the only one to be on the receiving end of Andreessen's criticism either, President Obama was also brought up.
"The Snowden reveals keep coming out. The [Obama] administration is letting the NSA out to dry. They're letting the American tech industry out to dry," Anderseen told CNBC in a Squawk Box interview. He had publicly endorsed Obama in the 2008 Presidential elections, but switched allegiance to Mitt Romney in 2012.
Andreessen is famous for playing a pioneering role in the development of web browser technology, co-authoring Mosaic, the first widely-used Internet browser. He then went on to co-found Netscape Communications Corporation.
In 2009, Andreessen joined Ben Horowitz in co-founding Andreessen Horowitz, a $4 billion venture capital firm.
Sources and Recommended Reading:
Snowden a 'traitor': Andreessen: www.cnbc.com