Edward Snowden Debate

In June 2013, former National Security Agency(NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, despite knowing he would face legal prosecution, revealed to reporters confidential information on global surveillance programs run by the United States' government. He leaked how the United States' government covertly collects personal online information, such as email messages and phone conversations, as part of anti-terrorism measures. According to Newsweek, 55 percent of United States' citizens lauded Snowden for his bravery but also expressed concern over loss of personal privacy after the leaks. However, with the rise of terrorist organizations, the United States needs to pass legislation that support the National Security Agency as it is essential to protecting …show more content…
Over 59 percent of the American population argue that there is no need to sacrifice personal liberty to be safe from terrorism (Schoen). Critics state that the NSA has violated federal laws protecting individual privacy and has overstepped its boundaries by spying on millions of online user accounts. Citizens no longer have confidence that their medical data, stock portfolios, and criminal records remain private. For example, one document leaked indicated that the agency was gathering information on American pornography habits as a part of the surveillance …show more content…
The United States needs to pass legislation that supports government surveillance programs, not weaken them. Some lawmakers, such as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Michael McCaul, have promoted legislation that would create a partnership between the government and social media sites. According to the Senate Intelligence Committee, the bill would work with social media service sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to notify authorities of communications related to explosives and