Pros And Cons Of Edward Snowden

In 2013, Edward Snowden released information about global surveillance programs, which were used to spy on American citizens and foreigners. These supposed surveillance programs sparked a debate on one of our most fundamental rights, the right to privacy. Critics of these surveillance programs argue that these programs are an overreach of the government’s power. However, in light of recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, supporters of these programs argue that they are necessary to keep Americans and the world safe from terror.

Read the following six sources and the introductions provided. Then synthesize information from at least three of the six sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed argument for your own position

Edward Snowden’s release of the government’s mass surveillance programs sparked a heated debate on how to balance privacy and security. Since the founding of our nation, we have prided ourselves on our right to freedom, which has included our right to privacy. However, as times change and as terrorism becomes a global threat, we face the greatest test of all. Can we survive as a nation of freedom, while still maintaining our national security? Right now, we see the effects of the privacy versus security debate with Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The FBI wants Apple to build a backdoor to the iPhone to help unlock a terrorist’s phone. The FBI’s argument is that this “backdoor” will help the investigation of the San Bernardino shootings and will stop further terrorist attacks. Apple’s argument is that this “backdoor’ will be an egregious violation of our privacy. As new threats continue to face our nation, it’s an interesting topic on whether we should still be able to maintain our right to privacy. Will we be able to find a balance between privacy and security or will George Orwell’s 1984 novel in which there is a surveillance state become reality? Not only is this an interesting topic, but it is also an appropriate topic for the AP exam. This debate is a contemporary issue that affects everyone. We all want privacy, but at the same time, we all want to be safe from terrorist attacks. Moreover,

"Edward Snowden: The World Says No to Surveillance." The New York

Times. The New York Times, 04 June 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

Abstract:

This source relates closely to the prompt, which asks the writer to take sides on the privacy versus security debate. Edward Snowden sparked this debate by releasing information on the government’s global surveillance programs. He is a very credible source who knows the effects of mass surveillance. This source will be useful to people who believe in the right to privacy. In the article, it says that the White House’s oversight board investigation found that the surveillance programs have not stopped a single terrorist attack. The article also mentions how the United Nations has declared mass surveillance a violation of human rights. Furthermore, it mentions how the right to privacy is “enshrined in the United States Bill of Rights.” These are all important reasons that support the right to