Readings

The readings for Tuesday, February 23 are:

Edward Snowden

1. Edward Snowden: Leaks that exposed US spy programme

   • Edward Snowden and the NSA files - timeline

   • Edward Snowden: The World Says No to Surveillance

   • Edward Snowden - The Untold Story

   • The Snowden Saga: A Shadowland of Secrets and Light

2. Edward Snowden's impact

   • Ex-CIA chief: What Edward Snowden did

   • Yes, Edward Snowden Is a Traitor

   • Edward Snowden Is No Hero

   • Two Years On, How much has Edward Snowden Achieved?

Government Backdoors

1. Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balances Between Public Safety

   • ISIS using encrypted apps for communications; former intel officials blame Snowden (Updated)

   • F.B.I. Director Repeats Call That Ability to Read Encrypted Messages Is Crucial

   • Thoughts on Encryption and Going Dark, Part II: The Debate on the Merits

   • NSA's director says Paris attacks "would not have happened" without crypto

2. A Message to Our Customers

   • Apple Fights Order to Unlock San Bernardino Gunman's iPhone

   • How Apple will fight the DOJ in iPhone backdoor crypto case

   • Inside the FBI's encryption battle with Apple

   • The Conscription of Apple's Software Engineers

Questions

Please write a response to one of the following questions:

1. From the readings and in your opinion, is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor? Should the US government pardon him for any possible crimes or should they pursue extradition and prosecution for treason?

   What exactly did he leak and how did he expose that information? Regardless of the legality of his actions, is what he did ethical and moral?

   Utimately, is what Snowden did beneficial to the public or did he harm the security of the United States and its allies? Personally, how have these revelations impacted you (or not) and your views on government, national security, encryption, and technology in general?

2. From the readings and in your opiniong, should technology companies implement backdoors in their products for the benefit of the government? Are companies like Apple ethically responsible for protecting the privacy of their users or are they ethically responsible for helping to prevent violent or harmful activities that their platforms may enable? How are these two conflicting goals to be balanced in a world of free-flowing communication and extreme terrorism?

   • If you are supportive of government backdoors, how do you response to concerns of privacy and intrusion? Are worries about Big Brother simply paranoia? When and why does national security trump individual privacy?

   • If you are against government backdoors, how do you response to conerns of national security? Isn't save lives or protecting our nation worth a little less individual privacy. How do you counter the argument: If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear?

Feedback

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the course, please provide your feedback at the end of your response.