Whistleblower Edward Snowden has criticised the SNP for "threatening" the autonomy of Scotland's universities.
Snowden, who is the rector of Glasgow University, condemned the Scottish government's proposed higher education governance bill which would hand ministers more power over how universities are run.
The bill sets out to change the way Scotland's universities are governed by introducing elected chairs to the courts of each university, and it would see students, staff, and trade unions represented on governing bodies.
Critics of the bill, including university principals, have accused the Scottish government of "political meddling" in universities. There have been suggestions that the ancient role of rector, to which Snowden was elected in Glasgow last year, would be made redundant, and that the measures would threaten university funding.
The Scottish government denies those suggestions, and the bill has been defended by the president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, who said criticism of the bill had become "increasingly hyperbolic, and even bizarre".
On Sunday evening, Snowden linked to a student newspaper article about the bill and tweeted: "Despite objections, UK's #SNP advancing bill threatening student, university autonomy."
Despite objections, UK's #SNP advancing bill threatening student, university autonomy. https://t.co/6s8hw2xIQN
Some SNP supporters have said Snowden has misinterpreted the bill.
.@Snowden This is more about the ruling elite losing the power to appoint each other to places of high pay and influence in our universities
Others say only people in positions of power at universities are criticising it.
@Snowden The student unions are broadly supportive as it gives student and staff much greater say. It's the £400k Principals against
While some are just admiring Snowden's trolling as he called it the "UK's SNP".
@Snowden The" UK's SNP" - probably not the best way to phrase that...
A Scottish government spokesperson said the bill will have no effect on universities' independence, and that the position of rector, which Snowden holds, will not be removed.
“The key aim of [the bill] is to strengthen governance and enable institutions to embrace greater transparency and openness," said the spokesperson. "This bill will not affect universities’ independence, and the position of rector will remain untouched.
"It will ensure institutions are more inclusive, enabling every voice on campus to be heard – helping students and staff to be more involved in making decisions."