Whistleblowing Theory

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Introduction This paper will discuss the concept of whistleblowing and the ethical dilemma Edward Snowden faced when determining whether to “blow the whistle” on secret surveillance being conducted on unsuspecting parties by the National Security Agency (NSA). The theories that will be applied are Deontological and Virtue Based Theories. What is Whistleblowing? A whistleblower is a person working within an organization who reports that organization's misconduct. The person can be a current or past employee. Also, note that the misconduct can be a past act, can be ongoing, or can be in the planning stages (Education Portal). External whistleblowing is when the whistleblower reports misconduct to a person outside the organization, such…show more content…
After only three months, Snowden began collecting top-secret documents regarding NSA domestic surveillance practices, which he found disturbing. After Snowden fled to Hong Kong, China, newspapers began printing the documents that he had leaked to them, many of them detailing invasive spying practices against American citizens. With the U.S. charging Snowden under the Espionage Act but many groups calling him a hero, Snowden remains in Russia, with the U.S. government working on extradition. A documentary on his story, Citzenfour, won an Oscar in 2015…show more content…
Deontological ethics holds that at least some acts are morally obligatory regardless of their consequences for human welfare (Encyclopedia Britannica). Snowden believed that he had a moral obligation to expose the government’s secret surveillance and he “could not in good conscience allow the US government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building” (The Guardian). The leaking of this information to the public was meant to inform the public, but at the same time outrage citizens into demanding answers and change within our government. Snowden’s moral obligation to disclose information to U.S. citizens is appreciated and praised by many, but has others questioning his actions. Most government officials believe that Snowden’s treasonous act has caused terrorists to change their tactics to thwart detection and put the American people in harms’ way. Many people think Edward Snowden is a hero for exposing the government’s secret, but there are many who deem him a traitor guilty of espionage. In a DoD news article, DIA Director, Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn stated that “we will likely face the cost in human lives on tomorrow's battlefield or in some place where we will put our military forces” (Simeone,
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