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Front Page Talking Points

FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 10, 2013

U.S. scrutiny of online communication and calls stirs debate over snooping vs. security

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1.gifRead a commentary (editorial, opinion column or reader letter) about this issue and tell why you agree or disagree with the main viewpoint expressed.

2.gifFind a different story involving the government – national or closer to home – and list reasons why the policy or actions described are or aren't controversial.

3.gifNow look for any communication-related coverage. Is it about public or private contacts?

The National Security Agency, one of the main federal agencies gathering information to protect homeland security, taps into the servers of Internet companies and also conducts surveillance of cell phone calls to spot contacts with foreigners being monitored. News of those secret programs ignites heated debate over the balance between democratic liberties and anti-terror safeguards.

The Washington Post revealed last week that a program called PRISM (see video below) collects information such as emails, documents, audio, video and photos from Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, AOL, Skype, YouTube and Apple. Separately, a British newspaper disclosed the gathering of cell phone data – numbers called and times, but not conversations or names.

President Obama, who stressed Friday that "nobody is listening to your calls," defends the programs. "It’s important to recognize that you can’t have 100% security and also then have 100% privacy and zero inconvenience," he says. "I welcome this debate. I think it’s healthy for our democracy." An author of military books who works at the private Council on Foreign Relations in Washington also speaks in support of NSA efforts. "Granted there is something inherently creepy about Uncle Sam scooping up so much information about us," Max Boot acknowledges in a guest column Sunday. "But to stop or scale back the NSA's special intelligence efforts would amount to unilateral disarmament in a war against terrorism that is far from over."

Official says: "A classified intelligence collection program is used to prevent terrorist attacks, [with] numerous safeguards that protect privacy and civil liberties." – James Clapper, director of national intelligence

Editorial says: "To casually permit this surveillance -- with the American public having no idea that the executive branch is now exercising this power -- . . . repudiates constitutional principles governing search, seizure and privacy."

Columnist says: "The creation of an invasive American surveillance state is probably inevitable. Politicians are people who can do math. The number of people who want to be safe, they are certain, is far greater than the number worried about abstract issues of privacy." – Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal

Front Page Talking Points is written by Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2024

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Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.