Edward Snowden joins Twitter

And, in his first tweet Tuesday afternoon, Snowden channeled the Verizon catchphrase: “Can you hear me now?”

Snowden has been called both a patriot and a traitor after leaking classified information from the NSA, but at least a few students who attended the lecture are choosing to call him a hero.

When Snowden replied that he would consider joining, Tyson quipped: ‘Your followers will be the Internet, me, and the NSA’.

He had to reach out to Twitter directly as the @Snowden handle was already in use.

“You and I will be Twitter buddies”, Snowden told Tyson.

Snowden has lived in Russian Federation since he first leaked the documents in 2013.

According to Snowden’s lawyer, Ben Wizner of the ACLU, Snowden himself will be controlling the account.

He later tweeted Neil deGrasse Tyson, saying: “Thanks for the welcome”. And now we’ve got water on Mars! With this 3-month subscription, you will join a network of “looters” who have access to the best gear, collectibles, toys, apparel, art, and other goodies made just for them. Asking for a friend’.