Edward Snowden performed a “public service” by prompting a debate over national surveillance tactics, even though leaking classified documents was still inappropriate and illegal, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says.

Holder praised the result of Snowden’s decision to leak intelligence information while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency in 2013. While illegal, Snowden’s actions started an important conversation which led to some needed changes in how surveillance is conducted, Holden said on a podcast over the weekend.