Edward Snowden was a former agent for the Central Intelligence agency and National Security agency. He was a computer specialist that was the key contributor to NSA leaks. The NSA leaks were information about the government and the surveillance they had on Americans. Snowden worked as an agent for three months before he came across this information that he had found outrageous and disturbing. He fled to Hong Kong and leaked the information to the government officials of China. They have leaked the information on the spying on American citizens through all types of media making these secrets become known to the general public. Snowden is now being charged under the Espionage Act of 1917, which punishes people who interfere with foreign relations. He has now fled to Russia where he is still currently living. I think that he felt that it was a crime against Americans to have surveillance over their every day lives when they have done nothing to raise suspicion. “I don’t want to live in a society that does these sort of things … I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded. That is not something I am willing to support or live under.” This is a quote from Snowden after he released the files. One can clearly see that he just thought it was ethically wrong and that he will never support a government that does this. He felt like it was the American people right to know about these things so that they can protect themselves and know that someone is always watching. I do not really agree with what he did because it makes our government look weak now. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy I now know about this but for other American citizens to leak important, classified files is inexcusable. Even if it is a wrong act, leaking the information to another country is not the way to handle it. If he did not agree, he should have stepped down and found a new job. As an American citizen I believe it is their right to know that everything they say is being recorded and watched, but I disagree with the way that Snowden handled this situation.
npipitone329 