Edward Snowden, who publicized documents revealing U.S. government surveillance on a massive scale, will appear live via video link from Moscow at a forum in Hono­lulu on Feb. 14.

Snowden, now in exile in Russia, was an intelligence analyst working on Oahu before he leaked a trove of classified documents to the press in 2013. He chose to reveal his identity.

He and his attorney, Ben Wizner, will have a conversation focused on the question "Can Democracy Survive Secrecy?" at the Davis Levin First Amendment Conference, sponsored by the ACLU of Hawaii Foundation. Their discussion will follow the screening of the award-winning documentary "Citizenfour."

Snowden’s disclosures kicked off fierce debate over the National Security Agency’s surveillance of Internet and phone communications of American citizens and foreigners. He has been charged under the Espionage Act.

Avi Soifer, dean of the University of Hawaii law school, will moderate the forum. Wizner is director of the National ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project.

The event will be at the Hawai‘i Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available by phone at 522-5906, or email to office@acluhawaii.org, or by mail to P.O. Box 3410, Hono­lulu, HI 96801.

The forum is also expected to be simulcast live on Olelo Community Television and other community media stations statewide.