About 2,000 people packed an auditorium on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder to hear former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden Tuesday night.
Snowden faces many charges including espionage, after leaking information about government surveillance.
Snowden spoke to the students through a video link from Russia.
On the topic of emerging technology, Snowden said “these technologies have a way of moving from war front to home front.”
Snowden also expressed skepticism about passing new laws to place limits on government snooping.
“Legality and morality are two very different things,” he said.
In addition, Snowden told the audience, “I’m still trying to get back” on a possible return to the United States.
$56,000 was used to pay for the event -- including paying for Snowden and a moderator.
Organizers say a panel of 15 students unanimously approved the contract.
"We get our fees through student fees, but we are a student board. So students are paying for this, students have decided on this," said student board chair Emma Woodyard.
Snowden has also spoken to students at Stanford, Princeton and the University of Iowa.
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