Mass Surveillance Pros And Cons

The American people are split over the idea of the NSA’s mass surveillance some say it prevented another attack like 9/11 from happening while others say it is unconstitutional and steals privacy from innocent Americans. Rewind a little bit the NSA started this surveillance shortly after 9/11/2001 when America was attacked by terrorists. At the time the program was kept secret to protect the NSA. They did this because they wanted to be able to try to prevent terror without backlash from the public for spying. The act that authorized this surveillance was called the Patriot Act which was created in October of 2001 and made it so the government was allowed to utilize more resources to avert future attacks domestic and foreign. Along with this George W. Bush (the current president at the time) made an executive order that allowed the NSA to spy on any US citizens suspected of ties to terror. This evidence shows the government was desperate to find solutions to stop another 9/11 happening not caring how drastic said solution is. A little but further in the future, Edward Snowden (an NSA worker) leaked files exposing the NSA’s mass surveillance, this was in 2013. Shortly after he fled the country and now has asylum in Russia some say he should come back and face the legal system while others say he should return and be pardoned for the leak. This data shows that Edward Snowden is strongly disliked by the government but for the most part is supported by the …show more content…
This issue is new, it hasn’t even been two decades since the surveillance has started many people aren’t even aware of it happening and those who do know are torn between which side to be on because it has many