Russian hints that the country could hand over America's most wanted whistle blower as a favor to Donald Trump place Edward Snowden in even greater danger than before. A secret meeting between global freedom and civil rights campaigners Snowden, Birgitta Jonsdottir and Larry Lessig turns into a freewheeling discussion about the future of democracy. Birgitta Jonsdottir has been a member of Iceland's parliament since 2009. All her actions have been aimed at giving the people back their voice and opening up the parliamentary process and political decision-making. Larry Lessig is a Harvard law professor. He tirelessly denounces the influence of money in US politics and the way establishment elites collude to support each other against the public interest. The three activists agreed to be filmed during an extraordinary conversation about their ongoing struggles, the last bastions of democracy and the opportunities and choices still left to us. The questions they ask are fundamental. Can democracy be saved? What unites us? How can you tell when democracy has failed?

斯诺登2004年应征入伍、后被派遣到伊拉克战场，因不幸在训练时双腿受伤，斯诺登退役回国后应聘加入中情局。之后，他又进入国安局工作，并意外发现政府在“9·11”事件后对公民电话和社交网络实施大规模监控计划，于是泄露了大量机密文件。事发后，斯诺登遭当局通缉，便逃到香港。此后，他几经辗转逃至俄罗斯寻求庇护。

　　《第四公民》将能高度还原“棱镜门”事件始末，为观众真实揭秘身处漩涡中心的爱德华·斯诺登。　　纪录片导演柏翠丝本人也是“棱镜门”事件的核心人物，正是在她和《卫报》记者格仑·格林沃德的协助下，斯诺登才得以将美国国家安全局的监控丑闻公之于众。而柏翠丝与格林沃德也因此荣获普利策奖。片名“第四公民”（citizen four）正是斯诺登早期与柏翠丝邮件沟通时使用的匿名代号。2013年6月，当柏翠丝第一次飞往香港与斯诺登见面的时候，她随身携带的摄像机也真实记录了当时的场景。《第四公民》将能高度还原“棱镜门”事件始末，为观众真实揭秘身处漩涡中心的爱德华·斯诺登。