Discuss your opinion on the role social media plays in whistle-blowing cases and how public organizations—government agencies or otherwise—should react to and/or use social media in the wake of a whistle-blowing incident.  

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MPA604 M7D1: Edward Snowden – Hero or Traitor? Part 1

Use Answer/ Question Method

Each part has to be at least 500 each

Many would argue that the ultimate expression of ethical autonomy is whistle-blowing. The stakes are even higher when the whistle-blowing involves disclosure of classified or highly sensitive information such as with Edward Snowden. In this discussion, you will debate whether Snowden is a hero or a traitor. You will also review the Qin article Hero on Twitter, Traitor on News: How Social Media and Legacy News Frame Snowden and discuss the social media implications involved with this example of public sector whistle-blowing.

Respond to the following:

  • Pick a side and debate whether you believe Snowden acted appropriately or inappropriately in blowing the whistle on the NSA.
  • Discuss your opinion on the role social media plays in whistle-blowing cases and how public organizations—government agencies or otherwise—should react to and/or use social media in the wake of a whistle-blowing incident.
  • M7D2: Social Media & Administrative Ethics Part 2

    Use Answer/ Question Method

    Each part has to be at least 500 each

    In December 2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) violated federal law, including anti-lobbying rules, by using social media to try to gain support for the agency having expanded regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act over ponds, ditches, and other waterways. The GAO found this use of taxpayer funds violated the law because the EPA sent government-sponsored messages without identifying them as coming from the agency, and by including in a blog post hyperlinks to other organizations that directly solicited readers to contact Congress in support of expanding the EPA’s enforcement authority.

    Consider this use of social media by the EPA and watch the following video before responding to the following questions.

    Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. (2014, February 6). Social media and ethics: The challenges for government (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file] [5 min 45 sec]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/pHZy5c15IPc

    Respond to the following:

  • Describe and analyze some of the pros and cons for public organizations using social media, including unique limitations involved with social media and government organizations.
  • Research a real-world scenario that illustrates how social media helped or hindered a public organization. Summarize what you found and discuss how you would have handled the situation differently (or why you would have done the same).