1776, the United States of America was founded. The founding fathers decided enough was enough when it came to the oppressive United Kingdom. It was time for change, it was time for a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Fast forward 237 years. 2013, the people of this great nation have been alerted that their government is less for the people, and more for the power. This whistleblower? Edward Joseph Snowden.

Snowden, tasked with the hacking, counterhacking, cracking, and monitoring of the world’s communications, had finally found an out. He releases hundreds of files to 3 members of press for the US and Great Britain.

Among other things, Snowden leaked the information that the NSA had been allowed access to the data, cookies (internet info), and user information of websites like Google, Yahoo, YouTube, and even Apple. The most vile breach of privacy Snowden released was the knowledge of the NSA uses a special program called XKeyscore to monitor the published and unpublished online documents, posts, tweets, and emails that Americans and those around the world sent and received for specific terror keywords. The NSA also has access to online and offline webcams, meaning they can view through a webcam across the world, without a warrant. The NSA is also legally able to, without warrant, browse through every person in the life of a suspect.

According to the Patriot Act of 2001, the government has the full right to “access to certain business records for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations.” This means they have legal access to all your metadata (internet footprints and information, which is also resolute in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA.) And finally, the Executive Order 12333, created by Ronald Reagan in the 80’s, gave the surveillance organizations of the US more power without the regulations.

Yet, Snowden is a criminal, in fact a terrorist by legal standards. This release of information, carelessly or purposely, brought to light secret surveillance programs that were in use against foreign threats. Snowden, while has yet to be seen, could have endangered many undercover agents. Under the Espionage Act of 1917, whistleblowers like Snowden will not get a public trial, but one meant specifically for spies who sold information for a profit, not for public benefit, although Snowden did not sell the information. Under the Sedition Act of 1918, the Espionage Act was forwarded into including misused speech. If Snowden, who is in exile in Russia, is to return to the US, he would not be afforded a public trial. In 2014, Snowden told Wired, “I told the government I’d volunteer for prison, as long as it served the right purpose, I care more about the country than what happens to me. But we can’t allow the law to become a political weapon or agree to scare people away from standing up for their rights, no matter how good the deal,” Snowden will come back to country if the trial furthers the country as a whole.

No matter how Snowden went about his efforts to show the country the overreach of the government, it’s the gravitas of the information that should decide if he made the moral choice. According to those on all sides of the political spectrum, if nothing else, Snowden did the country a service to alert the public to the misuse of technology. He presented the ability for the people to debate. He presented the country with the ability to use their right to question the government.

How does this affect teens? Be aware of your use of technology. Even if you have nothing to hide, you still have a right to privacy. Allowing someone to search your life, simply because you have nothing to hide is akin to “I have nothing to say, so take away my freedom to do so.” Is Snowden a criminal? If so, was he at least right to alert the public? You have the facts, make your own conclusion.