Introduction
The citizens of the United States took the news of the NSA spying on them with shock and discomfort. Nobody fancies a breach of his or her privacy, especially when it entails access to the information we consider as private (Ekins, 2013). When the whistleblower broke the news that the NSA was running an illegal program that was spying on the US citizens, there were different emotions experienced by the people (Hill, 2013).
Main body
The information leaked by the NSA operative proves that the government through its NSA agency has been carrying out illegal surveillance on its citizens. One is forced to wonder for how long these violations have existed. NSA was established in the year 1952, and it has been monitoring communications since then. It acquired its staff from the other intelligence agencies to form an elite intelligent service with unrivaled competence (Pappas, 2013). By going through loads of data, the NSA can pick anything of interest. This is like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. The agency has set up listening posts all around the world including having an office at the NASA mission control center. Since the year of its establishment, NSA has been collecting data from all over the world. NSA since time immemorial has been spying on US citizens. It is on record that, NSA sought a New Jersey couple, which was leaking information to the Soviets through surveillance of their communication channels (Ekins, 2013).
Some parts of the media have reported that we ought to have realized that this operation was in progress, and people should not protest (Sulmasy, 2013). This does not mean citizens should not protest against the government invading their privacy.
It is worth noting that as much as the NSA has set up this operation legally. It has done so in secrecy. This means that even its budget is unknown. US citizens are often conservative when it comes to questioning activities carried out under the tag name of national security (Sulmasy, 2013). This operation carried out by the NSA is illegal. The people should speak against it, and demand for its closure after the government has released an official statement on the matter in concern. The sad bit of this revelation is that other private companies were involved in some way. The slide with this revelation does not state whether the companies gave up the information knowingly or unknowingly. The companies mentioned have denied any knowledge of the operation, and they have stated that they never gave out any data unless there was a court order involved or search warrant (Pappas, 2013).
The law categorically states that the US justice department must prove that proposed surveillance will not target citizens abroad or US citizens, residents. It states that the justice department should comply with the fourth amendment (Ekins, 2013). The actions by the NSA are violating internet privacy and basic liberties of the people. Surveillance operations were introduced by the administration of Bush’s government, but President Obama’s government has continued to carry out these operations (Hill, 2013). Historically, America has continued to state that it will uphold and respect human liberties and human rights. Nothing should compromise this commitment made to the citizens of the US. The constitution primarily prevents the federal government from conducting any unreasonable searches and seizures on its people. This longstanding commitment has provided the foundation of America’s policies and laws. America as the greatest democracy should not give up these principles because it will be the biggest betrayal of its citizens.
The US needs a transparent government that respects the privacy of its citizens. We need to resist secret laws that infringe the privacy of US citizens. The government officials might argue that this operation is necessary to keep citizens safe, but that does not mean we should accept this violation of citizens’ rights (Pappas, 2013). The government has the resources necessary for maintaining national security without violating the citizen’s rights. They should use these resources, which do not violate any law. These secret operations only serve the sole purpose of satisfying politicians’ crazy fantasies. It is dangerous for citizens to put up their trust in politicians who are guided by power-seeking motives. The current president of the United States should explain the real motivation behind this program, and explain to his people its relevance. These revelations come during a period when the government is being questioned on its credibility with the people. The president has failed to be honest, forthright, and credible on this surveillance program (Hill, 2013).
Conclusion
The real debate here does not lie about the effects of the spying program on technology. The problem lies with the law, which does not prohibit the federal government from doing with technology (Ekins, 2013). The law does not protect the basic principles under which this great country was founded. The government is supposed to protect the privacy of its people, but as per the NSA revelation, the government is the greatest threat to citizens’ privacy. The government can survey, and use the data obtained against us. This program by the NSA should be strongly condemned and stopped because it is against the law.
References
Ekins, E. (2013). Public More Wary of NSA Surveillance Than Pundits Claim. Reason. Web.
Hill, K. (2013). How Americans’ Views On Surveillance Have Changed Over The Last Decade (Or Rather Not Changed). Forbes. Web.
Pappas, S. (2013). Privacy Concerns NSA Surveillance. Live Science. Web.
Sulmasy, G. (2013). Opinion Sulmasy NSA. CNN. Web.