PA-579-V05 Edward Snowden Case Study

Edward Snowden Case
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Edward Snowden Case
Over the years, the United States government has had increased the incorporation of remote spy on its citizens virtually everywhere globally with the desire to investigate public dissent. After operating for some years, the act reached a fever pitch when a former employee, Edward Snowden, intentionally leaked the classified actions and data (Boehme, 2017). The disclosure revealed the details about American Intelligence, their plans, target population, and special programs utilized by the National Security Agency (NSA).
Edward Snowden was a former employee at Booz Allen Intelligence Company when he leaked the classified information to WikiLeaks and media houses. His move overturned the intelligence community and the U.S government. The unethical leak leads to compromise and loss of the United States’ spy activities in Clandestine and increased public distrust of the government and the intelligence community (Pozen, 2019). The wicked act also led to a significant business loss for most corporations and internet service providers (ISPs). The negative impacts adversely affected the intelligence industry and the American military. Also, Snowden violated the Espionage Act of 1917, which forbids the leaking of States’ secrets. The act is punishable by treason.
Snowden violated the law by leaking the secrets of the United States’ surveillance programs, which is punishable by treason. However, the defendant argued that his acts were for the public good. The court proceeding spiked a debate on whether the defendants’ actions were justifiable ethically and legally. Ethically, Snowden may have violated the secrecy agreement signed under a contract but not a loyalty oath (Caster, 2016). According to the law, the culprit had violated the Espionage Act and could be put to treason, an act argued by citizens as a vi...