Governmental security services face multiple difficulties when protecting the safety of online-stored data. Maintaining the balance between international security and citizen privacy is a pertinent issue in the current age. The case of Edward Snowden presented in the film Snowden is a magnificent example of the USA’s authorities’ misuse of personal information. Individual data connected to residents’ private activities should be cautiously guarded by the state officials and not gathered for subsequent use.
The main themes of the biographical movie Snowden entail the subject of morality, illegal state activities, and electronic security. Edward Snowden, a CIA employee, is required to make a moral choice between preserving the government’s safety or informing its citizens of the state’s unlawful conduct (Stone, 2016). While in possession of classified knowledge about the CIA’s collection of private data, the protagonist decides to share this information with the journalists to uncover the illegitimacy of the authorities’ actions (Stone, 2016). The film declares that personal data safety is exceptionally valuable and must be guarded by the government.
The movie serves as a prominent argument in support of the statement that the citizens’ security should be protected and centralized by the country’s officials. The main responsibilities of a state lie in protecting its nation and distributing welfare (Kälin & Künzli, 2019). Invasion of personal data can be described as a breach of an individual’s safety, which directly contradicts the notion of proper protection (Buchan & Tsagourias, 2016). In addition, upholding the residents’ welfare entails careful management of private information, as psychological well-being is highly dependent on the sense of security (Kälin & Künzli, 2019). Given that the state acts as the primary source of protection for its citizens, their interests and personal safety should be the central concern of governmental campaigns (Provost, 2017). The government should always maintain its residents’ security, restraining from abuse of individuals’ data.
To conclude, the movie Snowden is a remarkable example of illegal governmental conduct, which was successfully uncovered by one of the citizens. The collection of private information and its implementation without the owners’ agreement is an irresponsible action from the state authorities. Residents’ privacy should be the first major concept protected by the government. Finally, any country should always follow its national regulations, especially in cases connected with international security.
References
Buchan, R., & Tsagourias, N. (2016). Special issue: Non-state actors and responsibility in cyberspace: State responsibility, individual criminal responsibility and issues of evidence. Journal of Conflict and Security Law, 21(3), 377–381.
Kälin, W., & Künzli, J. (2019). The law of international human rights protection. Oxford University Press.
Provost, R. (2017). State responsibility in international law. Routledge.
Stone, O. (2016). Snowden [Film]. Endgame Entertainment.