Preview

Edward Snowden

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
740 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Edward Snowden
One often finds that standing up and working in favor of the greater good usually results in negative consequences. Edward Snowden encountered this crossroad while working as a technical contractor for the NSA and the CIA. While working at the NSA's Oahu office, Snowden began noticing various government policies and techniques that the NSA was using in order to spy on American citizens. Through phone calls and internet use, information was gathered about various citizens without their consent. After only three months of working for the NSA, Snowden began copying and leaking the disturbing secret documents regarding the NSA’s surveillance practices. The documents contained information regarding the invasion of privacy of millions of Americans from the NSA's various domestic programs such as PRISM. Snowden then fled to Hong Kong in order to escape potential trouble with the law after newspapers began printing the leaked documents, many of which detailed the invasive spying practices against American citizens. This leads to the controversial matter of deciding whether or not Snowden is a whistleblower deserving recognition, or a traitor against his country. Those who support him, consider him a hero protecting the people while others view him as a traitor against America. A number of respectable people believed that Snowden should not be viewed as a patriot but rather as a traitor or defector. Those critical of his decisions also believe that his actions were unjust and “...strike at the heart of the collaboration between those nations in world affairs that stand at the forefront of protecting human freedom” (Murphy, 2014). It is an undeniable fact that Snowden broke the contract he signed upon working for the NSA when he decided to leak the confidential information to the public. There is a great concern amongst political officials that the information leaked could possibly be used by enemies of the United States. Since the leaked information revealed the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Bradley Manlen
    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Bradley Manlen

    Bradley Manning, a member of the armed force in the United States, worked as an intelligence analyst in Iraq from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, he sent classified documents and videos about military decisions and actions in the Iraq War to a website, WikiLeaks and his intention was to reveal injustice and wrongdoings. Later on, he was accused of violating the American secrecy laws, providing aid to their national enemy and several relevant counts. At last, the US court’s military judge sentenced him to 35 years in prison for being guilty of violating the Espionage act, copying and distributing the high classified information. However, he was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.…

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Edward Snowden Citizenfour Analysis
    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Edward Snowden Citizenfour Analysis

    Nearly three years ago, in 2013, Edward Snowden – a former American National Security Agency (N.S.A.) contractor – leaked anywhere from a hundred to two hundred thousand classified documents, that proved the existence of massive global surveillance, including of American citizens as well as top world leaders, run by the USA with the active cooperation of many allied governments as well as telecommunication and technology companies.…

    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Edward Snowden Is No Hero Summary
    • 283 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Edward Snowden Is No Hero Summary

    Jeffrey Toobin in the article “Edward Snowden Is No Hero” claims that Edward Snowden is not only a grandiose narcissist but also a an attention seeking snitch. Toobin supports his claim by informing the readers of Snowden's participation with foreign affairs and his manipulation of information by giving only biased details of government decisions, stating that “ The Post decided to publish only four of the forty-one slides that Snowden provided. Its exercise of judgment suggests the absence of Snowden’s. ” (Toobin). The authors purpose was to appeal to readers emotionally by focusing on the negative outlooks of leaking government information.…

    • 283 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Edward Snowden Ethical Dilemmas
    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Edward Snowden Ethical Dilemmas

    I chose to focus my analysis on Edward Snowden and his disclosure of classified domestic surveillance documents. When the leak first came out, I was upset at the thought of my privacy being violated by the NSA. However, the feeling dissipated when I considered the protection making that sacrifice affords. The NSA, like many organizations, are sometimes faced with ethical dilemmas. Occasionally, there is no right answer. Thus, the decision made, while not ideal, is the lesser of evils. In his TED talk interview, Snowden stated, “Your rights matter because you never know when you're going to need them” (TED, 13:20). While I admit his statement did trigger the reexamination of my stance, I arrived at the same position. Perhaps, I will look back…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Julius And Ethel Rosenberg Research Paper
    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Julius And Ethel Rosenberg Research Paper

    Throughout its long history, America has been tormented by a stream of its own traitors. Among those traitors many people believe that Edward Snowden and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg have been some of them. They have both done different deeds that have effected and impacted America in many different ways. Edward Snowden exposed holes in the country’s national security that could have proved disastrous in the future and should be pardoned for his crimes in light of this.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Examples Of Outlaw Heroes
    • 1631 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Examples Of Outlaw Heroes

    A legal system where people can still be charged for a criminal offence after it’s made legal and a system where government interference with laws have become so pervasive, many laws are deemed irrelevant by society. People like Snowden are improvising and breaking these laws which in many ways has contributed to the rise of the outlaw hero’s. Wilke says “Large numbers just knew the truth about him that he was a hero, that he saved the world by exposing the over-reaching surveillance of the NSA;that he should be honored, protected and deified along with other truth-seeking whistleblowers other Americans”(487). According to the Huffington poll thirty three percent of Americans believed Snowden was a hero. All these law breakers and their outlaw heroes are results of a law system where it’s so easy for people to break the law and become outlaw heroes. The NSA was overreaching and Snowden exposing them was an inevitability, yet he is glorified since he put himself in danger by doing something that even though seems logical and arguably justified, is illegal. It seems that exposing or refusing to follow nonsensical laws can make people outlaw heroes, if so being an outlaw hero is also inevitable outcome for many people. Americans are often truth seekers and…

    • 1631 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Can the NSA Be Trustworthy?
    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Can the NSA Be Trustworthy?

    Edward Snowden is a criminal, yet known as a hero. He knew the consequences if he released the private information to the public. He simply wanted to let America know what actions the government is doing today. He confirmed that the U.S. government, without having any proof of a warrant, collects phone call logs and keeps them in file. The second leak he announced was the N.S.A., who wants to track down foreign suspects, and or criminals, has the capacity to access emails from U.S. based Internet companies. Most people were in disbelief about this information because they thought they had their own freedom on the internet and taking phone calls. Others did not react to Snowden's information because they already suspected it. Either way, this issue is important to be aware about because it can let citizens know what the N.S.A is capable of doing.…

    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Edward Snowden Argument
    • 1168 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Edward Snowden Argument

    Edward Snowden was a hot topic in the news in 2013 after he released classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) to the media. This leak contained information about global surveillance performed by the United States, which involved monitoring email, tracking cell phones, and logging phone calls. Not only did this action force him into asylum overseas to avoid arrest, but it ultimately caused an uproar in the media and amongst the American public. The controversy surrounding Snowden involves the rights of the public vs. the surveillance programs performed by the U.S. While many condemn Snowden for betraying the national security of his country, many applaud him for exposing the…

    • 1168 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Edward Snowden: An American Hero
    • 1669 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Edward Snowden: An American Hero

    In recent discussions of Edward Snowden, a controversial issue has been whether or not he was wrong for leaking government information. On the one hand, some argue that he is an American hero. From this perspective, it is a good thing that he exposed the inappropriate surveillance tactics of the American government. On the other hand, however, others argue that he is a traitor. From this perspective, he betrayed his country by leaking information to other countries. In the words of President Barack Obama, “If any individual who objects to government policy can take it into their own hands to publicly disclose classified information, then we will not be able to keep our people safe, or conduct foreign policy” (Mason). In sum, then, the…

    • 1669 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Edward Snowden Research Paper
    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Edward Snowden Research Paper

    Edward Snowden harmed the United States by warning them. He warned them that they were being watch. So everyone was careful now to not get caught. Some people even stopped using technology to avoid trouble. Edward Snowden harmed the United States because he warned people, copied classified information, and made terrorist change their meaning of communication.…

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Controversy Of Edward Snowden's Violation
    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Controversy Of Edward Snowden's Violation

    Edward Snowden, a NSA computer professional, fueled the already strong stereotype of government being corrupt and hypocritical by revealing the government agencies’ surveillance operations on the public. The leak initiated controversy, and many debate whether Snowden was an American hero who is attempting to prevent tyranny or a traitor who is selling Russia classified information. The United States government has charged Snowden with violation of the Espionage Act, and they are attempting to apprehend him to face trial in the U.S. In reality, Snowden displays both. He held the government accountable to its hypocrisy and violation of the constitution as the government has done before in the condoning of slavery and segregation, and he took refuge in an enemy of the United States which escalated tensions and provoked possible conclusions on his true…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Edward Snowden's Invasion Of Privacy
    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Edward Snowden's Invasion Of Privacy

    Consider the technology that defines everyday life in America- texts, email, internet, and phone calls. In performing these constant activities, most never questioned their privacy, that is, until Edward Snowden squealed on the NSA’s less than ethical maneuvers. Without citizens’ consent, the American government was collecting metadata, “all the information surround a call, including the caller’s number, the receiver's number, the time and location of the call, and how long it lasted” (Diamond). The government may have been shooting for just the bad guys, but all American civilians got caught in the crossfire. Nothing would exempt a person from these invasions of privacy, and their data would be scanned and stored just like that of a seasoned…

    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Argument Against NSA
    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Argument Against NSA

    In 2005, government contractor, Edward J. Snowden, leaked classified documents to the public, revealing a classified government surveillance program headed by our own National Security Agency. This leakage confirmed that the NSA has stolen trillions of U.S. citizens’ emails, phone calls, and other information from both the Internet and our phones. It is understood that the collection and analysis of all information is part of the NSA’s mission to keep the United States safe, however, it’s troubling that our own government has to sneak around us. Regardless of whether or not U.S. citizens’ are committing illegal crimes, we should be concerned that the government and NSA steal our private information without our consent. As the government…

    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    domestic terrorism
    • 1144 Words
    • 3 Pages

    domestic terrorism

    There is an unavoidable issue which continues inconclusive, whether Edward Snowden is a whistleblower, or a traitor. Those who support him call him a hero, a man protecting the people. Others view him as nothing but a traitor or defector. The people agree that his actions were unjust and are considered domestic terrorism on the United States. Snowden signed a contract under NSA, which he agreed to keep their secrets but he broke the contract by leaking information to the public. This was an enormous concern to political officials because that information leaked can be used by enemies of the United States.…

    • 1144 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Cause Of Civil Disobedience In The United States
    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Cause Of Civil Disobedience In The United States

    Former C.I.A. employee Snowden leaked classified information about the National Security Agency’s programs. In other words, Snowden broke the law, and in doing so, he opened the eyes of the public to what some would perceive as an invasion of privacy. Those same people who perceived Snowden’s act of civil disobedience as an act of heroism would argue that this invasion of privacy is unjust according to the U.S. Constitution. In the event of Snowden’s civil disobedience, Snowden created distrust between Americans and the U.S. government by insinuating that the American government was unjustly infringing upon the rights of its citizens, and suggesting that there should be no circumstances in which this is legal or accepted by the American people. The reality is, however, that without organizations such as the N.S.A. there to monitor Americans from afar, the American nation would be open to millions of threats. In fact, those who view Snowden as a hero would likely view things differently if for example the safety of their nation was compromised by a secret terrorist organization within the United States which, without the efforts of the N.S.A.’s programs, had gone undetected. If this was the case, they would likely be arguing in favor of creating these programs rather than demolishing them. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that in the case of Edward Snowden’s act of civil disobedience, society was negatively impacted by…

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics