PRISM is a massive surveillance program established by the United States National Security Agency in 2007 with the goal of obtaining and analyzing information on criminal activity. In 2013, the whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that the extent of the National Security Agency’s operations were much larger than previously realized (BBC News). It is now known that the National Security Agency has obtained information from the servers of major internet companies (e.g. Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, AOL, Skype and YouTube), and logged telephone calls of Verizon customers. Furthermore, the PRISM program has targeted individuals from many countries, including Canada. Since the whistleblowing, there has been debate over the ethics of the PRISM program and how the issue of security should be addressed moving forward (rabble.ca).
Through PRISM’s collection of intelligence, it is is able to identify terrorism and other crimes before they occur. In doing this the National Security Agency is able to fulfill its duties by increasing the security of the United States. Security is important because it increases the safety of the public. The Director of National Intelligence, , believes the increased security far …show more content…
In the National Security Agency’s quest to increase the security of the United States, the privacy of the individuals it spies on is compromised. The National Security agency has collected foreign intelligence from many countries, including Canada. In Canada we are entitled to certain rights as Canadian citizens. While many rights protect our freedom, many of them also affect our abilities to be private (e.g. we cannot be exposed to any unreasonable search or seizure). By spying on Canada and similar countries, the National Security Agency has been covertly infringing upon the rights assured to many individuals (Global
Through PRISM’s collection of intelligence, it is is able to identify terrorism and other crimes before they occur. In doing this the National Security Agency is able to fulfill its duties by increasing the security of the United States. Security is important because it increases the safety of the public. The Director of National Intelligence, , believes the increased security far …show more content…
In the National Security Agency’s quest to increase the security of the United States, the privacy of the individuals it spies on is compromised. The National Security agency has collected foreign intelligence from many countries, including Canada. In Canada we are entitled to certain rights as Canadian citizens. While many rights protect our freedom, many of them also affect our abilities to be private (e.g. we cannot be exposed to any unreasonable search or seizure). By spying on Canada and similar countries, the National Security Agency has been covertly infringing upon the rights assured to many individuals (Global