For my computer tech class: Some people in more repressive countries use blogs to get ideas and information out to the world. Lately there has been much news about individuals in the United States and other other countries selling government secrets or publishing government secrets online. Do you think it's OK for individuals to decide to publish secret information? What good or harm could come of it? Should individuals who do this be punished or celebrated?

Question

For my computer tech class:                                       Some people in more repressive countries use blogs to get ideas and information out to the world.  Lately there has been much news about individuals in the United States and other other countries selling government secrets or publishing government secrets online. Do you think it's OK for individuals to decide to publish secret information?  What good or harm could come of it?  Should individuals who do this be punished or celebrated?

e.mccormick · Answer

Well, it is your opinion, so what do you think?

anonymous · Answer

I really was on the fence with this question. Ultimately, I decided that it is not okay for an individual to decide to publish secret information. There is obvious good that can comes from it, like the simple fact that questions will be answered and that alone can be very comforting to people. However, harm can come if our secret information gets into the wrong hands. Government secrets are set to protect. Naturally, those individuals should be punished because this can put peoples lives, even a whole country in danger.

e.mccormick · Answer

It is one of these double sided sword situations.  In one respect, the government is doing things without public oversight.  Some of what they do is very unethical.  On the other hand, there are terrorists out there and they are very willing to kill any operatives they hear about.