Do the French Want Edward Snowden?

Oliver Stone may have
purchased the film rights to Edward Snowden’s life story, but
it seems as if the French are aiming for the rights to Snowden’s
freedom by petitioning to grant him political asylum. 

Snowden’s Russian visa is set to expire in July and it’s unclear
what will happen to him once this occurs. Leaving nothing to
chance, French magazine L’Express
has taken to the online petition site Change.org to put the
pressure on President François Hollande to welcome Snowden as a
political refugee citing France’s history as a country “known for
human rights and freedom of the press.”

The petition, which was launched last week, is about 45,000
votes shy of its 200,000 signature goal, though some high-profile
French figures have signed on to the document including former
Prime Minister Michel Rocard, former member of the European
Parliament Daniel Cohn-Bendit, and author Caroline
Fourest. 

In March, Reason TV caught up with Change.org founder Ben
Rattray at the 2014 SxSW Interactive Festival and discussed the
power of online platforms like Change.org to spur social
change.