Seven Controversial Figures of Internet Freedom: Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and More

The internet is currently a crucial medium of communication. It is being used by people to express their ideas to an audience spread across the globe.

However, certain authoritarian states have introduced measures to filter, monitor and manipulate the internet, as they fear the power of new technologies. Activists have successfully used the medium to advocate political, social and economic reform and mobilise people for the cause.

Certain people have come out to question governments' interference in the cyber world and their snooping on the online activities of people. Some people say they are heroes of democracy, while some others label them as enemies of state security.

Given below is an infographic produced by NeoMam Studios about the most controversial figures of internet freedom, whose actions have divided opinions across the globe.

The list comprises of blogger Roger Shuler; Ladar Levison, who ran anonymous email service Lavabit; Julian Assange, the head of whistle-blower website WikiLeaks; Peter Sunde, co-founder of torrent sharing service Pirates Bay; computer hacker Jeremy Hammond; former NSA contractor Edward Snowden; and computer programmer Aaron Swartz.