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Journalist Bart Gellman (at podium) and former NSA contractor Edward Snowden (on screen) had a conversation in front of hundreds of spectators in Princeton University's Friend Center Auditorium on Saturday morning. (Rich Cuccagna | For NJ.com)

PRINCETON — Renowned journalist Bart Gellman conducted an hour-long conversation with former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden - who was 5,400 miles away in Russia - via video-conference in front of hundreds of spectators in Princeton University's Friend Center Auditorium this morning.

The conversation, which was free and open to the public and began shortly after 10:30 a.m., drew such an extensive crowd because of the controversial nature of Snowden, 31, who has been called a criminal, a patriot, and everything in between for leaking government information detailing the country's mass surveillance practices to the mainstream media - including Gellman - beginning in June 2013. In anticipation of the United States prosecuting him, Snowden fled to Russia and was granted asylum there before recently gaining a three-year residency in 2014.

"Does mass surveillance work?" Snowden rhetorically asked the Pulitzer Prize-winning Gellman. "Evidence says it does not, and even if it did, is it worth the cost?"

Snowden believes it is not, as he spent the better part of the hour-long conversation explaining exactly why he feels vindicated for exposing what he feels is not only an overstepping of boundaries, but flat-out unconstitutional behavior.

"Mass surveillance goes against natural human rights," Snowden said. "Whether you agree with me or the NSA (National Security Agency), there's no doubt these programs are controversial and shouldn't have been implicated in the first place. Any reasonable person can recognize that this needs to change."

Snowden delved deeper into, in his opinion, the problem at hand.

"In the wake of 9/11, the rules really changed," Snowden said. "The government believes, 'If it's out there, we should know about it.' When law enforcement needs to uncover something, they come up with a need. But that's not the way liberal society works."

Gellman wondered why Snowden utilized journalists to disseminate the information he gathered. Snowden said he believes journalists and the free press provide "checks and balances" to the government.

"I'm trying to picture some of your former colleagues (at the NSA) sitting at home watching this interview and I'm thinking they're throwing tomatoes," Gellman said. "They're thinking, 'We want to monitor Al Qaeda (and other threats).' Your beliefs sound like a comprehensive rejection of spying, so what is acceptable?"

Snowden responded: "It doesn't mean we shouldn't monitor military (concerns). But when we collect everything, pre-criminally, we actually understand nothing. For example, just because we monitor all phone calls in the United States did not mean we were able to prevent the Boston (Marathon) bombings.

"No one goes into the NSA to become a mustache-twirling villain. Everyone on the inside was deeply unsettled by the implications of the (intrusive mass surveillance) programs. ... This is not just an NSA problem, not just a U.S. problem, but a global problem. We need to stop this kind of behavior everywhere."

Rich Cuccagna may be reached at rcuccagna@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichCuccagna. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.