TOK PRESENTATION

REAL LIFE SITUATION

The 2013 Mass Surveillance
Disclosures
June 6, 2013 The Guardian:
NSA collecting phone records
of millions of Verizon customers
daily

June 27, 2013 The Guardian:
NSA collected US email records
in bulk for more than two years
under Obama

August 9,2013 The Guardian:
NSA loophole allows
warrantless search for US citizens
emails and phone calls
Edward Snowden the man
responsible for classified information
disclosure in 2013
REAL LIFE SITUATION (CONTINUED)
Snowden's "sole motive" for leaking the documents
was, in his words, "to inform the public as to that
which is done in their name and that which is done
against them.





Whistleblowing- when someone reports suspected
wrongdoing. Officially this is called making a
disclosure in the public interest.
KNOWLEDGE CLAIM &
COUNTERCLAIM
KNOWLEDGE CLAIM:
LEAKING CLASSIFIED DATA WAS ILLEGAL IN
SNOWDENS CASE


KNOWLEDGE COUNTERCLAIM:
NSA SURVEILLANCE WAS INTERFERING WITH PEOPLES
PRIVACY AND SNOWDEN GAVE PEOPLE THE TRUTH

TO WHAT EXTENT IS REVEALING CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION ETHICALLY JUSTIFIED?
KNOWLEDGE
ISSUE
POLITICS


KNOWLEDGE ISSUE: TO WHAT EXTENT IS REVEALING CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION ETHICALLY JUSTIFIED?

After it was known that Angela Merkel phone was
being monitored by the USA their partnership had
been stalled in many spheres.
RELIGION
KNOWLEDGE ISSUE: TO WHAT EXTENT IS REVEALING CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION ETHICALLY JUSTIFIED?

Buddhism 10 Commandments

(#4) Thou art well advised not to speak
divisively (separating those who are
united)

By his actions Snowden made US citizens
criticize US government.
ETHICS
Breaking the law is
wrong
Snowden broke the
Espionage Act of 1917
Therefore what
Snowden did was wrong
Judging actions:
Consequentialism
Deontologicalism
Snowden reveals PRISM
Snowdens intention was to
inform that people are being
spied
What Snowden did was
not wrong
KNOWLEDGE ISSUE: TO WHAT EXTENT IS REVEALING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
ETHICALLY JUSTIFIED?

Edward Snowden: Hero or Traitor?
Language Twists:
Gut-wrenching is a
very strong language
that conveys negative
message.
LANGUAGE
KNOWLEDGE ISSUE: TO WHAT EXTENT IS REVEALING CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION ETHICALLY JUSTIFIED?

REASON
What is the goal of leaking classified information?

EMOTION
What role does emotion play in making people
decide in going to leak classified data?
CONCLUSION

PERSONAL LIMITATIONS
Influence of mass media

BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://blog.acton.org/archives/55830-can-
whistleblowing-be-biblically-justified.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-
22836378
http://www.collapsingintoconsciousness.com/snow
dens-ethical-dilemma/