When Edward Snowden leaked the NSA documents to
the world, it was revealed in details how the government-agencies around the
world are spying on us. The leaks led to Edward Snowden being a fugitive in
Hong Kong, from where he had to flee to Russia, where he spent almost 5 weeks in the terminal of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport (The Guardian)
By many activists on the internet, Snowden
is seen upon as a hero and a freedom fighter, while other parties such a the US
government think of Snowden as a traitor and a threat to the national security.
By leaking such extensive information describing the surveillance-systems around the world, Snowden gave potential terrorists
useful information, which can cause a threat to the US and the rest of the
world. By doing this, Snowden put the public in danger and can be considered as a
traitor.
But putting the world in danger was not the
intention Snowden had in mind with the leaks of the documents. He did so in the
hope, that he could change the way we are monitored.
M.G Michael and Katina Michael says the
following about freedom:
First,
freedom implies not only being “free of chains” in the practical sense, to be
permitted to go about one’s daily business freely and without undue constraint,
but nowadays also without your every move being tracked, monitored, and
recorded.
(Michael and Michael, 2011, p. 11)
With the leaks, it became clear how far
from this definition of freedom we are. Instead of being free we are being
monitored 24/7 and even when taking measures like encrypting our communication
online, we are in the risk of being monitored. (Gigaom.com: NSA hacked unto encrypted communications)
By allowing our governments to monitor us,
so they can “protect” us, we also allow them to limit our freedom and our
freedom of speech. An example of this is when the UK newspaper, The Guardian
had to delete information it had on the Snowden case.
The leaks of Snowden can harm put people in
danger, but it seems like a necessity, to keep dystopias like George Orwell’s “1984”
as fiction.
References:
Ingen kommentarer:
Send en kommentar