The story of Edward Joseph Snowden who was born on June 21, 1983, began as soon as he broke American and international law and presented many classified documents that were simply stolen from secure databases. His career as a computer specialist and former NASA contractor developed successfully. Until it was some certain moment, when Snowden delivered about 200,000 documents to press. Day by day, and week by week, they were published in Guardian, claiming some day that only 1% of the overall amount of documents was published. That gave many opponents and proponents to expect many more documents, as Guardian claimed that “the worst is yet to come”. By November 2013, only 1% of documents were published.
The explanation of Snowden’s actions is justified by himself: “I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong”? – Snowden said in his clarification to Guardian. From his point of view, his actions are intended to defend basic human rights and democratic values. The question is: “Does Snowden have right to break law and disclose some documents he has access to, but does not own?” Even if these documents consist of very important information, but they are taken illegally, these evidences are of no value.
Opposing this argument, John Cassidy suggests that Edward Snowden is a national hero for his actions:
“Thanks to Snowden, and what he told the Guardian and the Washington Post, we now have cause to doubt the truth of this testimony [security of data]. In Snowden’s words: “The N.S.A. has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything. With this capability, the vast majority of human communications are automatically ingested without targeting. If I wanted to see your emails or your wife’s phone, all I have to do is use intercepts. I can get your emails, passwords, phone records, credit cards.” (Cassidy, 2013).
Edward Snowden showed to the entire world that under contemporary circumstances, all personal data cannot be stored in security, as every cyber terrorist can get immediate access to them, no matter how hard security services are trying to hide information. In spite of this, many experts and common people knew this without Snowden’s help that it is better not to store much personal information, as none can guarantee that all private pictures in Facebook or Flickr, or even email lists or phone numbers can be stored in our tablets or mobiles safely.
Some mass-media, specifically YouTube publishers, try to represent video related to Snowden issues, “in an effort to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.” (Gallagher, 2013). And although they try to present information, and particularly some Snowden interviews, many things are still unclear. For instance, why Snowden did commit this crime? In his Interview with Glenn Greenwald, he talks about conformity, and, in his opinion, living in the society means accepting some governmental rules, including following every governmental law that are of the universal character. Why then Snowden goes the wrong way, what is called by him ‘the human nature”? Like against normal life that is related to peace?
Snowden explains his step by that he does not want to conform common rules. He explains his position by that he does not want to live in the society that is completely under control of the U.S. government. He encourages people to “stand up and fight” against globalization and unifying living standards across the globe. According to Snowden, people should not conform the rules that are set by the US government, but fight against the global control for more and existing rights that are basic as fro democratic values.
In Snowden’s opinion, some Asian governments are even of better democracy than US governments. He thinks that, for example Hong Kong’s government defends rights of the nation better than American government. It is not only thanks to this government only, but also to the nation. Snowden underlines that democratic values are reached by the “long tradition of protests”, so he stands for the rights of people in the whole world with his disclosures.
Interviews with Snowden and reaction of many officials about this question led American society to the discussion: who is Snowden, hero or traitor? In my opinion, Snowden cannot be treated as hero, as some mass-media are trying to present him as so. He started to work for American government. Why then in some certain moment he decided to make disclosures? Maybe as he received payment from somewhere abroad? Maybe he worked for terrorists? Everything is possible, for we don’t know practically anything about Snowden in particular, except some official information and what is presented by him.
Why then many mass-media support Snowden’s position? It is clear! Newspapers and magazines like so called “fresh” or “raw” facts, so they find just a good information that Snowden presents for their readers. Information for mass-media is above all values, and they do not really take into account that Snowden is traitor who acted against American interests.
Even in respect to democratic values, is stolen information accepted as evidences by judicial system? The right answer is “no”. There is no justification about acting illegally, even if Snowden acts for better, for defending human rights and democratic values.
Even in some modern mass-medias, there are some rules of getting information, like getting it for any values. There is no justification for such conduct, as the aim cannot be justified by means of getting the information.
Although Snowden encourages people to “stand up and fight” against US government, there is something he does not really understand. It is not enough just to disclosure some information and let it go with the help of some mass-media. There is a need to take responsibility for one’s actions, irrespectively of the importance of this information.
There is a hope that Edward Joseph Snowden will be justified not only by common sense, but also for his actions judicially.
Works Cited
Cassidy, John. Why Edward Snowden Is A Hero? The New Yorker, June 10 2013.
<http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2013/06/why-edward-snowden-is-a-hero.html>
Gallagher, K.M. NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden. Interview. Youtube <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yB3n9fu-rM>
Greenwald, Glenn (June 17, 2013). "Edward Snowden Q&A: Dick Cheney traitor charge is 'the highest honor'". Guardian Security and Liberty blog.
Lam, Lana. "Snowden sought Booz Allen job to gather evidence on NSA surveillance." South China Morning Post (Hong Kong). June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
