June 2013
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June 2013 was the sixth month of 2013 in the Gregorian calendar. It had 30 days. The month began on a Saturday and ended on a Sunday.
The month saw several events that received major coverage in global media, particularly the disclosure of reports on U.S. surveillance programs and large-scale protests that erupted in Turkey and Brazil.
The Snowden disclosure
At the beginning of the month, The Guardian and The Washington Post published documents concerning the data collection programs of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), which included phone call collection and a program known as PRISM. Days later, the source identified himself as Edward Snowden, a former contractor working with U.S. intelligence agencies. Snowden was initially in Hong Kong before relocating to Russia. The matter sparked a global debate on privacy rights and the scope of government surveillance.
Protests in Turkey and Brazil
In Turkey, demonstrations that began in Gezi Park near Taksim Square in Istanbul—originally opposing a construction project—spread to many cities and became widespread protests against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government. Police used tear gas and water cannons. In Brazil, increases in public transportation fares triggered protests involving millions, which broadened into demonstrations over public services and spending allocated to football.
Other events
The month also marked political transitions in various countries and international meetings, including the G8 summit. Syria's civil war continued, while Egypt saw protest movements driven by events earlier in the month and the beginning of July.