Essay On Edward Snowden

The debate surrounding Edward Snowden and the revelation of the NSA’s PRISM program has been rekindled with the recent release of a biopic about his life and the Senate Intelligence Committee urging the President not to pardon Mr. Snowden. Articles arguing against a pardon have become commonplace, but on the other hand Mr. Grasso argues that Snowden is deserving of a pardon for his actions as a whistleblower. The article outlines the dangerous precedent set by prosecuting whistleblowers, and how their likelihood of exposing infringement is reduced by it. Also arguing that while his actions may have adversely affected the interest of the national government, the unconstitutional actions of the NSA simply needed to be made public knowledge. Lastly, the article argues that Edward Snowden isn’t a traitor, but is in fact a patriot. His actions as a whistleblower far outweigh the fact
In the 21st century nearly every aspect of our lives is digital with people voluntarily putting everything they’re doing online through social media. On top of that people carry a device on their person at all times which contains a camera, microphone, and tracks their location. The data that is collected and stored on each individual allows the NSA to categorize and track anything they deem problematic. A simple computer program allows the government to monitor every aspect of millions of Americans lives at once, without even obtaining a warrant. With the knowledge that these capabilities exist, self-policing is likely more prevalent than ever. The government has yet to go full Orwellian by cracking down on thought crime, but the threat is ever present without a guaranteed right of privacy explicitly outlined in the constitution. With the 2016 election being completely different than any before it, can the government really guarantee that this type of power doesn’t fall into more radical