Edward Snowden Crimes

When many think of the NSA’s data collection programs, the first thought is of whistleblower Edward Snowden, who leaked classified American documents in 2013. These documents revealed to Americans the ways the NSA collected their information for investigation. The agency was found wrongfully collecting information from other countries such as China to investigate previous attacks on the U.S. Department of Defense (Cate 31). Domestically, one of the biggest things Americans learned about was PRISM, a program that allowed the NSA to gather email, video chat, photos, and other data from big companies such as Microsoft and Google. (Ganguly 99). This information was used to investigate crimes that occurred within the United States and also to protect the freedoms of the internet. The actions of revealing this information by Snowden began debates and discussions about the legality and ethics of the tactics that the NSA uses, that has been discussed thoroughly since this event. These discussions also allowed not only citizens, but the government itself to learn more about how the NSA operates. The research done since the events in 2013 have produced notable results, but the ways the agency obtained these results are problematic to many. Although it is crucial for the NSA to fight foreign threats to national security, investigate domestic crime, and …show more content…
While some of these types of internal investigations, such as tests against cyber defense walls and efficiency of systems, are run by the Department of Defense, the NSA also uses their tactics to help secure the governments infrastructure from hacks coming from other countries (Alexander 19). These operations do not necessarily affect the American public, but it is important to understand that the NSA has goals beyond just collecting information from citizens. Their mission is truly to protect the United States and that comes through many different