General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Greenwald: Snowden Intel Bomb Will Go Off If ‘Something Happens’ To Him [View all]kenny blankenship
(15,689 posts)and material he had which was damaging -not just to the tender feelings of the US government, but to persons in the field -was not going to be released, along with other documents, the nature of which wasn't mentioned. This material was in placed in the hands of 3rd parties -wikileaks? journalists? lawyers?
But those who had the material couldn't read it because it was encrypted.
If something like an unfortunate accident or surprise extradition or kidnapping were to happen to Snowden, the encryption keys would then be automatically released to those holding copies of the files.
So, some parties, presumably lawyers and human rights activists in other countries are entrusted with the keys, and other parties, presumably newspapers and journalism organizations, have the files.