Edward Snowden’s Whistleblower Legacy
Seven years ago, Edward Snowden came forward and revealed his identity as the person who shared confidential NSA documents revealing global spying and surveillance by the governments of the United States and several allies. At great personal risk and sacrifice, Mr Snowden revealed how deeply the United States government had been involved in unconstitutional acts. Since he came forward, he has been heavily criticised by some as a traitor. Conversely, he has been hailed as a hero and a whistleblower by others.
His initial revelations were shared through the aid of Glenn Greenwald. Later reveals came through various outlets including the United Kingdom’s The Guardian, New York Times, Washington Post, and Germany’s Der Spiegel. Although Mr Snowden originally intended to seek asylum in Latin America, he was unable to leave Russia and has since been granted asylum there.
If you would like to know more about Edward Snowden, you can check out the films Citizenfour and Snowden.
Wikipedia defines a whistleblower as “a person who exposes secretive information or activity within a private or public organization that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct.” In the United States, whistleblowers are protected by the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989.
The Role Of A Whistleblower
Genuine whistleblowers play an important role in our society. Unfortunately, there are times when someone files a whistleblower complaint out of vengeful or petty motives. Legitimate whistleblowers usually report illegal or unethical acts. There is often debate whether a whistleblower should have come forward with the information, as is the case with Edward Snowden. Whistleblowing can be especially controversial when it involves matters of national security. Whistleblowers work in conjunction with the media to help hold the government in check and accountable.
If you are considering taking action as a whistleblower it’s important to know your rights and to know the laws and rules regarding whistleblowing. It is strongly encouraged that you consult an attorney that specialises in whistleblowing. The National Whistleblower Center also has valuable resources. Whistleblowers are protected legally from retaliation, but the protections are often very narrow, so it’s important to know and understand the risks you might take by blowing the whistle.
Whistleblowing has a long, important legacy. Since Edward Snowden though, whistleblowing has been a bigger part of the social awareness and consciousness. It takes courage to be a whistleblower because of the risks associated with whistleblowing. A legitimate whistleblower plays an important role in society and should be appreciated, respected, and recognised for what they do.
Garrett Leeds is the founder of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Project
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