Examining the Ethical Implications of NSA Surveillance After Snowden

This essay delves into the ethical complexities surrounding the National Security Agency's (NSA) surveillance practices, particularly in light of Edward Snowden's disclosures. It examines the NSA's monitoring of internet traffic and call transmissions of US citizens, a practice aimed at detecting security and terrorist threats. The paper evaluates Snowden's actions, which some view as whistleblowing and others as treason, through the lens of ethical theories such as Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Contractarianism. Furthermore, it assesses the situation using the ACS Code of Ethics for ICT professionals, focusing on aspects like public interest, quality of life enhancement, and honesty. The analysis considers the impact on individual privacy versus national security, ultimately recommending transparency from the NSA to foster public understanding and ethical support. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar essays and solved assignments.

Running head: ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Evaluating the situation using Doing Ethics Technique:.............................................................3
Evaluation of the situation using ACS Code of Ethics:...............................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
Executive Summery
The working of the NSA has been disclosed by the Edward Snowden, a former employee of the
NSA. The main work of the NSA is to observe and monitor the internet traffic and the
transmission generated from all the calls of the millions of US citizens in order to detect the
possible security and terrorist threats. This working of the NSA was unknown to the citizens
until Edward Snowden passed all the information regarding this surveillance to the Washington
Post and the Guardian. The act of the Edward Snowden has been regarded as the act of traitor by
some of the people. However, many of the people supported the act of Snowden and regarded his
doings as the act of “Whistle Blowing”. The main objective of this paper is to understand the
degree of morality in the doings of the Edward Snowden. The analysis is based on the doing of
ethics thing and the from the point of view of ICT professionals using ACS code of ethics. The
analysis using both the regulations will indicate the rightness of the act done by Edward
Snowden. The recommendations are made on the basis of the analysis.

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
Introduction
Edward Snowden was an employee of the Booz Allen Hamiltion, who worked at the
NSA (National Security Agency). The main function of the national security agency is to collect
the information and taking the necessary steps in order to protect the country from all types of
internal and external threats. In order to do this the NSA started to surveillance over the internet
traffic and transmission from the calls generated by the millions of the US citizens [1]. The
information they got from the monitoring of the transmission were helpful in the detection of the
terrorist activities. The working of the NSA was unknown to the citizens until Edward Snowden,
discloses the matter through the news paper. In order to avoid the federal charges. Some of the
people regarded the dong of Edward Snowden as the welcome move and has referred “Whistle
Blowing” [2]. However, some of the people regarded the action of Edward Snowden as act of
traitor. This paper analyzes the ethical issues regarding this act and indicates weather it is an
ethical act or not. It has been seen the NSA has not followed all the ethical attributes maintained
in the both regulations. The recommendations are made on the basis of the analysis in order to
dissolve this kind of ethical problems in future.
Discussion
Evaluating the situation using Doing Ethics Technique:
Doing Ethics Technique is the way to determine the level of morality in any action. The
evaluation is based on the specific questions.
What is going on?
Edward Snowden is the former employee of the NSA who has disclosed the information
regarding the surveillance of the NSA over the internet traffic and the transmission of the

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
communication of the data generated by the calls of millions of US citizens. In order to escape
the federal charges Edward Snowden escaped from the country[3]. The information they got
from the monitoring of the transmission were helpful in the detection of the terrorist activities.
The working of the NSA was unknown to the citizens until Edward Snowden, discloses the
matter through the news paper. In order to avoid the federal charges. Some of the people
regarded the dong of Edward Snowden as the welcome move and has referred “Whistle
Blowing”. However, some of the people regarded the action of Edward Snowden as act of traitor
What are the facts?
The knowing about the monitoring practice of the NSA has put a certain impact on the
people. Some of the people regarded this act as the violation of privacy of the individuals and
supported the act of Edward Snowden [4]. On the other hand some of the people regarded the act
of the Edward Snowden as work of traitor. The fact regarding this action is to determine the
ethical issues and the degree of morality of the doings of NSA and Edward Snowden.
What are the issues?
If it can be seen from the moral perspective, the doing of the NSA cannot be regarded as
ethical act, as the violation of the privacy of the individual has happened in this case. On the
other hand the act by the Edward Snowden is also questionable as it violates the privacy of the
company. The issues regarding this case, is to determine the level of correctness in the workings
of the Edward Snowden and NSA.
Who is affected?

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
The most affected people are the common people in USA. Their privacy has been
violated due to the action taken by the NSA. On the other hand it can be said that the security of
the NSA is also violated as the internal working principal of the organization has been disclosed,
which is not desirable.
What are ethical issues and the implications?
The morality of the doings of Edward Snowden and the NSA are the issues in this case.
In order to maintain the security of the country NSA takes certain steps. Snowden has disclosed
those workings of the NSA which can later become a threat to the country. Moreover an
employee of the organization is bound to maintain the confidentiality of the internal processes of
the organizations. Snowden has violated that rule [5]. The information they got from the
monitoring of the transmission were helpful in the detection of the terrorist activities. The
working of the NSA was unknown to the citizens until Edward Snowden, discloses the matter
through the news paper. In order to avoid the federal charges. Some of the people regarded the
dong of Edward Snowden as the welcome move and has referred “Whistle Blowing”. However,
some of the people regarded the action of Edward Snowden as act of traitor
The another ethical issue regarding this case is the violation of the privacy of the people.
In the democracy, the privacy of the people is needed to be maintained [6]. In this case, the
doings of the NSA has violated the privacy of the individual people.
The acts referred in this case will be evaluated under the three classical theories of the ethics:
Utilitarianism:

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
Utilitarianism denotes that a action can be supported ethically if the outcome of the action
generates benefits for the greater number of people [7]. In this case, the doings of the NSA helps
to detect the criminal activity and the terrorist activities. Though , the action violates the privacy
of the people, the working of the NSA delivers the good for the greater number of people.
According to Utilitarianism theory of the ethics this act can be regarded ethical.
An act of Deontology:
The determination of the state of the act is determined by the act of Deontology. This
classical theory of the ethics judges the rightness of the act rather than evaluating the impacts of
that action [8]. According to this ethical theory, the monitoring of the phone calls and
surveillance of the internet traffic is not permit able as it does not support the maintenance of the
privacy of the people. According to this theory the act the Snowden can be regarded as ethical
act, he informs people about the unethical practice happening in the organization.
Contractarianism:
This ethical theory denotes the comparative judgment between various moral factors in
order to determine the right decision to be made[9] . The NSA has conducted the monitoring and
observing the network traffic, which contradicts the maintenance of the security of the
individuals. However, on the other hand it can be said that the doings of the NSA will help to
keep the millions of the US citizens safe from the possible attacks. In this case, the comparison
between two arguments denotes that the decision taken by the NSA is ethical.
The implication of the action:

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
The monitoring the NSA over the internet traffic and the phone calls of the US citizens
were done in order to prevent the possible terrorist activities. Edward Snowden has disclosed the
information to the people. Some of the people supported Edward Snowden and regarded his act
as the “ whistle blowing” on the other hand the doing of the Snowden was regarded as the act of
traitor by some people [10]. After the incident Edward Snowden escaped from the country in
order to escape the federal charges.
What can be done about it?
The main problem in this situation is that the two problems mentioned in the case has the
their own valid point for the consideration. The privacy of the individual is an important thing
and the maintenance of the privacy is needed to be done. On the other hand the working of the
NSA is dedicated to the country [11]. The steps NSA has taken to prevent the terrorist attacks is
needed to be supported as it ensures the well beings of the individual of the country [16]. In this
situation the NSA needs to clarify their act to the people of the US and let them know the
significance of their doings or they can choose not to clarify the fact to the people.
What are the options?
There are two options available for the NSA. They can clarify their act to the people of
the USA and let them know about the importance of that act [15]. On the other hand the NSA
can choose not to clarify anything so that they can maintain the internal confidentiality.
Which is the best and why?
Giving clarification to the people is the bests option as it will make the people know
about the intention of the NSA. This will give the ethical support to the doings of the NSA[12].

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
The knowing of the main intention of the NSA is not the controlling the privacy of the people
will help the people to understand the situation.
Evaluation of the situation using ACS Code of Ethics:
The ACS Code of Ethics for ICT professionals has some factors to judge the sustainability
and the level of the morality included in a act.
 Setting priority of the interest of the people:
The interest of the people is needed to be kept above all the concerns while doing a
project or taking an action. In this case, the doing of the NSA has considered the public
interest in a larger perspective.
 Enhancement of the quality of the life:
The actions taken by the ICT professionals should enhance the quality of the life of the
individual people. The doings of the NSA helps the enhancement of the individual’s life
by prevented the terrorist attacks in the country.
 Honesty:
During the development of the process carried out by the ICT professionals , the
maintenance of the honesty is needed to be present[13]. This ensures that the
professionals will not hide any thing regarding the project process and the outcome of the
process to the people. In this case, then working of the NSA does not meet this attribute.
 Competence:
The practice carried out by the professionals should be exclusively for the stakeholders.
In this case, the working of the NSA is exclusively for the people of the country which
maintains the safety and the security of the individuals.
 Professional development:

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
The practice carried out by the ICT professionals will enhance the professional skills of
the other ICT professionals. However, this attribute is not applicable in this case.
 Professionalism:
The action taken by the ICT professionals will help in the maintaining of the social
integrity and it will deliver the benefits to the society [14]. The main objective of the
working of the NSA is to eliminate the terrorist attacks and maintain the overall safety
and the security of the country. This step will help to maintain the social integrity and the
safety of the society and the country.
Conclusion
It can be concluded from the discussion that there are several ethical flaws in both the
action of the Edward Snowden and the workings of the NSA. The actions in the both cases are
evaluate on the basis of the two ethical regulations. The working of the NSA has been disclosed
by the Edward Snowden, a former employee of the NSA. The main work of the NSA is to
observe and monitor the internet traffic and the transmission generated from all the calls of the
millions of US citizens in order to detect the possible security and terrorist threats. This working
of the NSA was unknown to the citizens until Edward Snowden passed all the information
regarding this surveillance to the Washington Post and the Guardian. The act of the Edward
Snowden has been regarded as the act of traitor by some of the people. However, many of the
people supported the act of Snowden and regarded his doings as the act of “Whistle Blowing”.
The main objective of this paper is to understand the degree of morality in the doings of the
Edward Snowden. The analysis is based on the doing of ethics thing and the from the point of
view of ICT professionals using ACS code of ethics. The analysis using both the regulations
will indicate the rightness of the act done by NSA.

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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
References
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ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING THE WORK OF NSA
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