Introduction: Thomas Andrew Drake, a man who was a former senior executive of U.S. NSA (National Security Agency), a decorated United States Air Force And Navy veteran and a whistleblower. In 2010, Thomas Andrew Drake was alleged with mishandling of documents, rarest of the Espionage act in the history of United States. Defenders of Drake claim that he was instead being prosecuted for challenging the trailblazer project. In 2001, exactly on the day of 9/11 he was appointed as the Signals Intelligence Directorate in Fort Meade, Maryland when he joined the NSA as a full-time employee. He later progressed to higher levels in the organization to a level where he held a top security clearance. During the investigation which was dwelled into the 9/11 by congress, he was testified NSA failure. In 2011, he was awarded Ridenhour Prize for TruthTelling and was co-recipient of Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII) award. As we progress into this paper, we will discuss various stages of this crime such as what were his actions in NSA, NSA inquiry and acknowledgement, Inevitable Whistleblowing, FBI raids, Indictment, Court proceedings, Government arguments, final disposition, what happened since 2012. In this paper we will also discuss the Espionage act and Whistleblowing, what is a part of the McCarran Internal Security Act and what was the Nation Defense information, classified information which was mishandled by Thomas Andrew Drake.
Espionage Act and
He confirms his reasoning with the fact that when his book ‘Day of deceit’ hit seller’s shelves, almost immediately, NSA began withdrawing records regarding Pearl Harbour from public records. The fact that Stinnett has gone to many different lengths to prove his perspective superior, demonstrates how strongly he feels about
It is not surprising that the person responsible for the largest leak of classified intelligence in the history of the United States would be a very controversial figure. This essay will explore the life of Chelsea Manning, the classified material that was made public as a result of her leaks, and her eventual arrest and imprisonment. Upon close analysis, it can be shown that while Manning leaked classified material in an improper manner, the American people have a
On June 6, 2013, The Guardian published a story about the National Security Agency's (NSA) secret Internet surveillance program, PRISM (Greenwald and MacAskill 2013). The story was based on documents leaked by one of the most successful whistle-blowers in American history, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The documents that Snowden has released up to this time have shown the NSA to be heavily engaged in the collection of personal Internet activity, bulk collection of telephone "metadata," and other forms of surveillance that have brought U.S. intelligence practices into question.
On June 6, 2013 the details of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance activities where given by Edward Snowden to the public; raising concerns of Americans about their privacy. Edward Snowden, a former employee of the NSA, gave the alarming details of surveillance programs in his interview on how the NSA accesses our emails, calls, internet activity, and anything else that is related to technology. In this system of surveillance the NSA can gather data from companies and tap the cables that are vital for moving around information from technological devices, they may also use their relationships with technology companies to get emails or information straight from U.S. servers. (Cawley, Kiss, Boyd, Ball) Nevertheless, the claim is
We all have heard the phrase loose lips sink ships. On 19 May 2011, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) painted another picture in our mind regarding this phrase. The in-depth investigation of Bryan Minkyu Martin revealed the real reasons why he betrayed the country for his own benefit. This is a classic example to prove cyber espionage cases can be alarming to our nation’s national security.
The Patriot Act was introduced as a response to the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11th. It has radically changed the way in which the government operates in the investigations of people in and out of our country. It has broadened the powers of the federal government in the way in which they can obtain information on people. In this paper I will be discussing the ethical and moral issues of the expanded ability of wiretapping, search and seizure, the establishment of the FISA court, and end with the transparency of these practices.
Privacy has endured throughout human history as the pillar upon which our authentic nature rests. Yet, in an age darkened by the looming shadow of terrorism, another force threatens to dominate the skyline and obscure the light of liberty behind promises of safety and security: government surveillance. As an employee of the NSA, Edward Snowden broke his vow of secrecy to inform the public of our government’s furtive surveillance acts, but does this render him traitorous? To answer this, we must first ask ourselves, traitorous to whom? When the very institution established to protect our fundamental liberties intrudes on our privacy from behind a veil of secrecy, should such informed individuals resign from judicious autonomy and
Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (N.S.A) subcontractor turned whistle-blower is nothing short of a hero. His controversial decision to release information detailing the highly illegal ‘data mining’ practices of the N.S.A have caused shockwaves throughout the world and have raised important questions concerning how much the government actually monitors its people without their consent or knowledge. Comparable to Mark Felt in the Watergate scandals, Daniel Ellsberg with the Pentagon Papers, Edward Snowden joins the rank of infamous whistleblowers who gave up their jobs, livelihood, and forever will live under scrutiny of the public all in the service to the American people. Edward Snowden released information detailing the
Edward Snowden. This is a name that will be in the history books for ages. He will be branded a traitor or a whistleblower depending on where you look. Many Americans feel that Edward Snowden is a traitor who sold the United States’ secrets aiming to harm the nation. Others believe that he was simply a citizen of the United States who exercised his right to expose the government for their unconstitutional actions. It is important to not only know the two sides to the argument of friend or foe, but to also know the facts as well. My goal in this paper is to present the facts without bias and to adequately portray the two sides of the argument.
In early 2013 a man by the name of Edward Joseph Snowden began leaking classified National Security Agency (NSA) documents to media outlets, which in turn ended up in public ears. These documents, mainly involving intelligence Snowden acquired while working as an NSA contractor, are mostly related to global surveillance programs run by the NSA. This has raised multiple ethical issues ranging from national security, information privacy and the ethics behind whistleblowing in general. The reach and impact of these leaks have gone global and have put in question the very government that protects us as well as the extent of the public’s rights on privacy. Various foreign
program that was used to identify phone calls made between users and known foreign terrorist
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?
Although Thomas Drake had good intentions to challenge the Trailblazer project, he was not cautious. His first problem was that he trusted the system. He had a belief that, if he was honest, he would not get into trouble. “Mistake number 1: trusting too much. "Most whistle-blowers believe the system works,"” (Whistle-blower’s Dilemma). When Drake learned about the surveillance policies, the first thing he did was to go to the N.S.A.’s national counsel. In his conversation with Vito Potenza, he gave away that he might go against the agency. Hence, he became a target of the N.S.A. Then, when the feds showed up and started questioning him, he became too honest hoping that the system works and told them about his relationship with Gorman. “Among
“You can't have 100% security and then also have 100% privacy and zero inconvenience. Society had to make choices” said President Obama. It has become a given in society that it is on the government’s agenda to procure its nation’s safety in exchange of the privacy or freedom of the people. Edward Snowden, a paladin of social justice, has now come to light with outstanding facts as for what specifically it is that the National Security Agency (NSA) is able and willing to do for the country’s sake. Snowden, a 29-year-old NSA ex-employee, worked from Hawaii on his computer support for the recollection of data in bulk from the whole nation . Under the name of Verax, which means truth teller in Latin, he
It was there that he uncovered how “all-consuming” the NSA was when it came to surveillance. All the protocols that were in place to limit the NSA’s power had failed. In 2012, he left for Hawaii, a whistleblower-in-waiting.