US Balancing Act Between Privacy and Intelligence Thrust Under the Microscope

The United States’ National Security Agency has come under fire for a variety of domestic surveillance programs since June 5, 2013, when the UK newspaper, The Guardian, first revealed the secret program. Additionally, the former NSA employee, Edward Snowden, who released the documents and testified to The Guardian, is seeking asylum in Latin America. Some citizens hail Snowden as a hero whistleblower for revealing programs that are an invasion of privacy. Many government officials, however, have defended the programs and are vigorously seeking the extradition of Snowden to the United States.