Edward Snowden and The Government Data Collection Program

Edward Snowden is a 29-year old male who leaked the greatest mysteries about what the NSA, National Security Agency, is actually doing. His confidential leaks are some of the most crucial political leaks in history. On the other hand, Snowden created controversy in America, and cause people to distrust the government, even though he used illegal means to obtain this information. (Luce) Edward used rhetoric, culture, and deception in reports to the public. However, the question appears, “does the end ever justify the means?” In my opinion, I do think that the end of this dilemma is justified.

Edward Snowden’s Leak of The NSA Spy Program Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner in which he coined the term “Land of the Free”. Many Americans are now questioning if America is still “land of the free”. In June of 2013, information leaked by Edward Snowden on the National Security Agency and its programs caused a storm of questions and strong opinions for and against the security of individuals. The leak uses factual information of top-secret government spy programs that are considered by many Americans to be an invasion of privacy and a violation of freedom. Due to many Americans feeling violated by top-secret government spy operations, Edward Snowden’s leak on the National Security Agency programs have and will continue to radically change the power the government holds because citizens are now empowered to fight against unjust government practices.

This shows how the NSA has been caught red handed by most sophisticated countries. The NSA keeping secrets from the public breaks relationships between the government and its citizens. Also between other countries too. The once secretive agency not known by many people has been exposed to their secrets by Snowden and other countries too. Although there are multiple POVs on this, most people could agree that spying on their own people is just wrong.

Also, the fiery controversy of whether the compromise of millions of people’s privacy is worth a secure government security is still being debated. Many are outraged of the new findings in the NSA’s dark secrets and are pushing for new rights to privacy to combat NSA surveillance.

Now, the debate rages on: Is Edward Snowden an American hero or an American villain. The United States government wants to bring treason and espionage against him for leaking some of the most confidential government secrets, but, what most people didn’t know before this whole debacle was that the government was uncontrollably spying on its people using any type of phone, tablet, or computer, Now the government’s response to the outrage of the people would be that they are protecting them from possible terrorists, but some may still ask the question of: Is the government violating my privacy? After gathering all the information, it is up to you to decide: Is Edward Snowden an American hero for exposing to the people of the U.S. the government’s dirty spying secrets or is he an American traitor guilty of espionage and treason?

The documents reveal N.S.A.’s secret surveillance program which is allowing them to spy on the things we browse on the internet and the people we call and text . As a result, millions of U.S. citizens are angry of the actions taking place without their consent. Edward Snowden is a hero of millions of Americans and the only hope for them to keep their 4th Amendment right. For many Americans, Edward Snowden’s actions has jeopardized America’s safety and has put them in a vulnerable position. In a debate between Chris Hedges and Geoffrey Stone, Geoffrey Stone said (Democracy Now, Is Edward Snowden a Hero?

Now, reforms are being pressed against the government’s throat as citizens fight for their rights. However, American citizens are slammed with the counterargument of the innocent forte the NSA tries to pass off in claims of good doing, such as how the NSA prevents terrorism. In fear of privacy violations, limitations should be put on the NSA to better protect the privacy of our honest citizens. Recently in global news, the name Edward Snowden has became quite popular as he snatched millions of people’s attention along with breaking news headlines. Snowden released numerous documents via internet that were private to the NSA; these leaks revealed the dirty work the NSA and government have ... ... middle of paper ... ...A was watching their every moment at this very second?

This collection incriminated the NSA in illegal spying activities. After doing this, Snowden went to the media with the information, and the whole scandal was born. The general consensus was negative towards the NSA for spying on the public. America’s allies such as Great Britain we very unpleased too. It seemed that in the heat of the scandal, everyone had turned on the american government.

After September 11th, Americans looked to the government for protection and reassurance. However, they did not expect to find out thirteen years later that the government did this by using technology to spy on Americans, as well as other countries. George W. Bush began the policy shortly after the terrorist attack and Barack Obama continued it. There have been many confrontations over the years about the extent of the N.S.A.’s spying; however, the most recent whistle-blower, Edward Snowden, leaked information that caused much upset throughout America (EFF). It has also brought many people to question: is he a hero or a traitor?

Some might say that Edward Snowden is a traitor and they would be entitled to their opinion. He leaked hundreds of classified documents that were meant to stay secret. In the government eyes he is someone who put his whole country at risk, who endangered millions of lives because however wrong they were their mission serves a bigger purpose. In arguing this Edward Snowden is not a traitor he could have carelessly released every document that he had gathered but he didn't. Something set him apart from those who had preceded him before in their whistle blowing mission.