Opposition to Leakers - Government Whistleblowers Expose Classified Information

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.

Many people don't know what a whistleblower is, but a whistleblower is someone that has knowledge of confidential information. The “NSA” the National Security Agency releases information to the public because they know that it would benefit the people. Most of the information is confidential or can be a violation of company policy/rules, law, regulation, or threat to public interest/national security, as well as fraud, and corruption. There are two people that have impacted the world with their braveness of releasing information to the public knowing that it would put their lives in danger their names are Edward Snowden and Daniel Ellsberg. They both were faced with charges after doing illegal conduct. I would never be capable of doing such things knowing that the outcome can be really bad such as a life sentence. I wouldn’t be able to live with the idea of having a lot of knowledge and wanting to work with such institution. I’ll be talking about two

These governments are attempting to stop these whistleblowers because; by law, they are committing high treason. High treason is a very serious crime and the idea of it going unpunished is terrible. At the same time, I do not wish to create something that will simply make the government look dutiful. This is why I aim to portray Edward Snowden as the main focus. While he was persecuted and is still wanted by the United States for high treason, he is no longer their focus and not being hunted down like a rat. This makes him the ideal centering point to demonstrate how the concept should be

Edward Snowden took advantage of his access the government’s vast electronic surveillance operations. Snowden had access to more sensitive information than Manning but, in his dealings so far with the Washington Post and The Guardian, he has made a key point of not releasing all the documents he had which is saving him from harsher punishment. ("What Bradley Manning Leaked.”) Many of the documents that Edward Snowden had exposed were related to our military capabilities, operations, tactics, techniques and procedures. Even a confidential Pentagon report written by military intelligence officials claims that Edward Snowden's leaks had put U.S. soldiers at serious risk and encouraged terrorists to change their strategies. ("Snowden Leaks Could Cost Military Billions: Pentagon.") However, in the middle of 2014, the NSA's director, U.S. Navy Admiral Michael S. Rogers, said that while some terrorist groups had changed their communications to avoid surveillance techniques revealed by Snowden, the damage done was not significant enough to claim it as an immediate threat or danger. Still, in February 2015, “the NSA director said that Snowden's disclosures created "blind spots" in the NSA's surveillance by revealing U.S. strategies to monitor terrorism”.( "What NSA Director Mike Rogers Doesn't

The Internet is one of the most widespread ways to exchange data, and a website called WikiLeaks has received a great amount of attention from the knowledge it releases. The details they give are known to be confidential and provide society with an inside view on what is really happening behind of the closed doors of the federal government. The site is based on the “belief that a more transparent government will bring better consequences for all, and that leaking information has an inherent tendency toward greater justice” (Singer 465). WikiLeaks gives its readers a way to honestly know all the significant facts and records that are purposefully kept away from

This is prominently recognized through the intents of Edward Snowden. Despite being recognized as a hero for announcing the “technical capability” the United States government has for intercepting American communications, his whistle-blowing act is obviously to fuel his own ego (Cassidy 3). For example, the information regarding America’s spying would not surprise “organized terrorist groups” that naturally avoid being monitored already, and Snowden did not even reveal the N.S.A.’s methods of surveillance (2). Additionally, he gave no classified information, so why even release it? Instead of reporting to the press, he could have protested the situation in court, as is natural when government employees are dissatisfied, but Snowden did not do so (Toobin 3). He released the secrets to fuel his narcissistic tendencies; Snowden exposed the N.S.A. because they did not “meet his own standards of propriety” (2). Society was affected negatively because of his selfish deed; panic was widespread for years and no positive changes occurred within laws. Because Snowden’s civil disobedience was egotistical, society was negatively

It is popularly believed, even by presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, that whistleblowers only break promises of the nation, and release critically secret information to the everyday public. Many believe that they should be punished for this violation of secrecy. Yet, perhaps what they release could be saving the country and government. Secrets in government of war and finances can be detrimental to the health of the United States of America from the spread of conspiracy theories and due to the fact that the government, which should be protecting the people, is sneaking behind citizen's backs and making their own worldwide decisions. Whistleblowers are needed to create a prosperous and stable country if our government is going to be this corrupt with their secrets.

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

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?

Edward Snowden is considered by many to be a criminal, but there are others who firmly believe that Edward Snowden is a patriot, and rightfully so Edward Snowden is a hero to the American people and many abroad. The United States government has the responsibility to serve, protect and aid the American people, but sometimes the government and some of its classified documents every now and then get published and criticized. Edward Snowden had worked for multiple government agencies such as the CIA, NSA and prior to that an American contractor as a computer professional, and during his tenure at the NSA he had realized the grotesque and unprofessional ethics and violations of privacy against the American people, and so many innocent citizens

In late 2009 and early 2010, a not for profit website called WikiLeaks posted classified US military documents showing all of the mistakes made by the US military and its soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. WikiLeaks does so much more than just release classified documents about the US military; they are no different from the New York Times in that “WikiLeaks is a project of the Sunshine Press” (Assange). WikiLeaks is an international online, non-profit, journalistic organization that publishes leaks (documents the public is not supposed to see) to its website for other news agencies to use.

Governments have secrets. Governments have deep, dark secrets that they will go to great lengths to keep out of the public eye. Should journalists be prosecuted for simply sharing the truth or sharing a truth that some do not want to hear? Assange argues that there is a need for sites like WikiLeaks because leaks have the propensity to substantially change the world. I understand his argument, but I disagree. I do not feel that journalists should have the power to discern whether or not government secrets should be kept secret or not. Secrets are labeled secrets for a reason and the general public does not need to know every action the government takes in order to live happy and meaningful lives.