Final answer:
Edward Snowden is best known for revealing classified information about the NSA's global surveillance programs, sparking a worldwide debate on privacy and security, leading to calls for legal reforms, and resulting in him seeking asylum in Russia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edward Snowden is most known for his disclosures of classified information regarding the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the broader intelligence community's global surveillance programs. In particular, Snowden leaked documents that revealed the extent to which the NSA was collecting data on both American citizens and foreign nationals. His actions ignited a global debate on privacy vs. security, government transparency, and the nature of whistleblowing. Snowden's revelations were first published by journalists, including those at The Guardian and The Washington Post, and laid bare the sophisticated methods by which governments can surveil both their own citizens and those of other countries. His leaks have led to charges against him in the United States, and as a result, he has been living in exile in Russia since 2013. The situation has also led to calls for reforms in surveillance laws and discussions about the balance between national security and individual privacy rights.