Edward Snowden is right to release surveillance document to public

Since the 911 terror attacks, the government has introduced laws such as the US
Patriot Act to start collecting intelligences legally from the public. For national safety reasons, it
is reasonable to do so to prevent terrorists. However, there has surfaced an American whist
blower a year ago called Edward Snowden. He has revealed secret surveillance documents from
the National Security Agency (NSA), which is hided from the public. On an interview, he
indicates that [the scale of the surveillance] should be determined by the public, not for
somebody who hide from the government. Therefore he chose to reveal confidential documents
associated with domestic and global eavesdropping and internet monitoring to the media. After
the leaks, some people are afraid the importance of the national security in America will exceed
human rights and those surveillance programs might offend the law, moral issues, which might
lead bigger negative impacts than national security concern. The government should create a
system to provide leakers a fair judgement so that their rights will not be offended.

National Security Agency has offended the human rights by monitoring citizens
phone and internet records from the world. Snowden reveals that the US government was able to
access detailed records of individual smartphone and internet activity via a scheme called
PRISM without permission legally. Since computer technology improves, most of personal
information is saved in digitization instead of paper based. Therefore, using system like PRISM
can definitely create a huge damage to the public interest, even threaten the freedom of speech
and press. As the result, [the government] may more frequently issues subpoenas to
reporters..or seek information about reporters, commination from third parties, as it obtain the
personal and professional phone records without prior notice to [public](Mary Rose 4).
International Religious Freedom Report in 2008 rules that everyone has the right to life, liberty
and security of person, so without any criminal evidences, authorities should not be allowed to
obtain any private information.

The standard of ethics for each person is the main framework to sustain the stability
of structural society and surveillance programs will break it down if they ignore moral rights.
The basic structure of society is built upon liability and trusty, and cooperation which are a
transaction between people, link to different positions to integrate the community. After the
leaks from Snowdon, John Hopkin University cryptologist Matthaw Green indicates to the
media that their staffs feel betrayed and suspicious on the government because the surveillance
program PRISM were using back door to snoop their intelligence while they are hired by the US
National institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to government encrypted web traffic
(Finkeiner). To prevent such incident happen again while defending threats effectively from
outside, spying action can not violate personal privacy, surveillance programs should be
following the law with high transparency and under public supervising. And it also should be
involve collecting and storing information about people who are not criminals (Cooper).

Edward Snowden can raise awareness to the public attention and debate which
create the revolution to define surveillance standard through amendments so that human rights
and leakers can be protected under the consideration of national security. Leakers sometimes
might improve rights in America as leaders and journalists stands out to declare the importance
of rights. In America, Obama once again highlight the surveillance issue and said the reform
[he is] proposing today should give the American people greater confidence that their rights are
being protected, even as [their] intelligence and law enforcement agencies maintain the tools
they had to keep us safe(Holland ,et al).The EU Justice commission also expressed concern
about the consequence of PRISM for EU citizens (The European Institute) when Snowdon
reveals that the program does cover all around the world, even with the alliance countries like
German presidents self-phone was tapped by PRISM. After the leak, journalist Mary Rose


suggests that The First amendment should support the common sense distinction between those
who leak information with the purpose and effect of contributing to the public debate (5).
Though public supervision, surveillance program PRISM will be under control and human
rights in America will improve.

To be able to defend terror attacks, recognize threats, and prevent criminal activity
effectively, some people think that it is necessary to offer more privilege to the government so
that they can more easily obtain personal information. Some believe that people who disagree of
the program, are overly suspicious on PRISM because the government is trustable or citizens
will consciously behave under surveillance program. However, the surveillance power is
overreach and immorally, even though it is not illegal under American policy. Rights and Ethical
standard should not be based on the general idea in the society because its standard can be
immoral, like Jews were being killed during WWII in Germany. Surveillance is essential to have,
but it must under a transparent system to public, instead of using PRISM, which gives US
[government] operates access to a wide range of private online information (Laura).

A Famous quote from Jimmy Carter states America did not invent human rights. In
a very real sense... human rights invented America. Rights are always gained by people who
treasure it. Despite some people would suspect Edward Snowdens motivations, which might
cause by personal desire of money or rewards, he has sacrificed his job and daily life to show
the importance of the freedom of speech and press as he raises the attention globally. He does
treasure the liberties in America. Since he fled to Hong Kong, his American passport has
invalided, and American Department of Justice has charged him as espionage, then Snowden
went to Russia for refuge. Although there is no 100% of privacy or security exists, at least there
should have discussions between citizens and government to reach the best scheme for safety
and human rights. Therefore, American government should build a system to provide an open
platform to give whistle blower to defend themselves rather than treating them like traitor. (995
words)




















Works Cited
Papandrea, Mary-rose. Leaker traitor whistleblower Spy: national security leaks and first
amendment. Boston University Law Review Vol 94, Issue 2(2014). p449-544. 96p.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 May. 2014.


http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ehost/detail?sid=ee2753ed-172e-
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Parenthetical references: (Mary-rose 4-5)
Paquette, Laure. The whistleblower as underdog: what protection can human rights offer in
massive secret surveillance? International Journal of Human Rights., Vol. 17
Issue 7/8 (Oct-Dec2013), p796-809. 14p. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 May.
2014.
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9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=a9h&AN=92943048
Parenthetical references: (Laure)
Ann, Finkbeiner. Researchers split over NSA hacking Nature: international weekly journal of
science. Vol. 502 (Oct 2013). Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 May. 2014.
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Parenthetical references: (Finkbeiner)
Diplomacy in action. Appendix A: Universal Declaration of Human Rights. US Department of
states. International Religious Freedom Report 2008. [United States], 2008. Web.
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2008/108544.htm
Steve Holland, Mark Hosenball and Jeff Mason. Obama bans spying on leaders of U.S. allies,
scales back NSA program. Reuters. 17 Jan 2014.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/17/us-usa-security-obama-idUSBREA0G0J
I20140117. Web. 19 May. 2014.
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden: 'I don't want to live in a society that does these sort of
things' Youtube.9 June 2013 Web. 25 May 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yB3n9fu-rM
Caitlin Del Sole, European Affairs Editorial Assistant. European Concern over Prism Program
(6/24). The European Institute. 9 June 2013 Web. 25 May 2014
Chan 5
http://www.europeaninstitute.org/June-2013/european-concern-over-prism-program
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Marni Cooper. Pivacy and Surveillance: What Are Your Rights? March 16, 2011. Web. 25
May 2014
http://gator.ndm.edu/~mcooper/privacy.html