Google Inc (GOOG), Facebook Inc (FB): Is Edward Snowden a Hero or a Villain?

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Personally, I fall on the side that says Snowden is a heroic whistleblower. Here’s why.

Rumors of massive surveillance systems have always floated around. Now the idea has leaped from tinfoil-hat conspiracy theories to the realm of public discourse. Government agencies and members of Congress openly discuss these data collection efforts now, albeit in the most guarded ways possible. I think it’s healthy to shine a light on the inner workings of our intelligence efforts.

Snowden’s leaks didn’t stop the data collection. They also didn’t stop the NSA’s targets from talking on American phones or data networks. You might say that the whole saga just pushed the suspected terrorists further underground, using new communications methods that are impossible to track with current methods. They know we’re listening, so it’s time to get new tools.

OK. That’s one more step in the eternal dance between good guys and bad guys. We make it harder to talk; they dive deeper. At least the moves were made in public this time and might leave a lasting legacy of better privacy policies. Not just for Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft, and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), but for American citizens in general.

That would be something worth fighting for.

The endgame
At this point, Edward Snowden’s work is pretty much done. Unless he left the juiciest disclosures for last, he’s opened the door to a semi-informed discussion about American surveillance efforts that may or may not change the world. The final chapters of his spy thriller come down to seeking asylum somewhere in Latin America, with the very agencies he talked about chasing him every step of the way. Like I said, call Tom Clancy.

For the rest of us, I hope to see more transparency around data collection efforts. I don’t mean sending me an email every time the FBI goes looking for my search history, but I do want more information about the number and scope of national security requests — which is exactly what the companies I’ve mentioned are lobbying for.

The Washington efforts might not change the world. If Congress doesn’t take action on these petitions, the public will have forgotten all about Snowden by the time it’s all said and done. But the fact that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) are asking for permission to share more metadata about the process (oh, sweet irony!) makes me more comfortable already.

And that’s a start.

The article Is Edward Snowden a Hero or a Villain? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Anders Bylund.

Fool contributor Anders Bylund owns shares of Google, but he holds no other position in any company mentioned. Check out Anders’ bio and holdings or follow him on Twitter and Google+. The Motley Fool recommends Facebook and Google and owns shares of Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.

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