In your personal opinion, do you agree with Edward Snowden’s ethical defense of his actions? Argue your opinions using at least two ethical traditions The Ethical Debate Surrounding Edward Snowden’s Leaking of Classified Documents

The Ethical Debate Surrounding Edward Snowden’s Leaking of Classified Documents

The ethical debate surrounding Edward Snowden’s leaking of classified documents has been a highly contested and controversial topic since 2013. Since then, Snowden has been seen as both a hero and a traitor for his actions. In this paper, I will discuss my personal opinion on Edward Snowden’s ethical defense of his actions using two ethical traditions: utilitarianism and deontology. Utilitarianism would argue that Edward Snowden was justified in his actions because it was for the benefit of the greater good. By leaking the classified documents, Snowden was able to reveal the extent of the US government’s surveillance program and the privacy violations that it entailed. This was beneficial to the public, as they were now able to become aware of the government’s actions and make changes to protect their privacy. Therefore, his actions could be seen as a “greater good”, as they allowed the people to be informed and to make decisions to protect their rights. On the other hand, deontology would argue that Edward Snowden was not justified in his actions because of the. Cont…