Leaked documents (e.g., Edward Snowden) confirm extensive government surveillance programs. Governments around the world collect information to protect their countries from threats like terrorism, cyberattacks, and crime. They use technology to monitor phone calls, emails, and internet activity. While some of these programs are publicly known, others have been kept secret.
In 2013, a former U.S. government worker named Edward Snowden leaked classified documents showing that the National Security Agency (NSA) was secretly gathering huge amounts of data from people around the world. This included phone records, online activity, and even private messages. Many people were surprised by how much information was being collected, even from ordinary citizens who were not suspected of any crimes.
These revelations led to debates about privacy and security. Some argue that mass surveillance helps prevent dangerous attacks and keeps people safe. Others believe it violates personal privacy and gives too much power to the government. After the leaks, some countries changed their laws to limit surveillance, but technology keeps evolving, making it harder to know how much monitoring still happens in secret.
