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QUESTION 12
GS4
20 marks

Edward Snowden disclosed confidential government documents on surveillance programmes, violating the law but arguing a moral duty to inform the public about actions undertaken in their name and against them. Some view him as a whistle-blower defending privacy; others say he compromised national security. Were his actions ethically justified despite being legally prohibited? Weigh the competing values.

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14 min
250 words
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What the examiner wants

Discuss: answer the exact PYQ as framed — “Edward Snowden disclosed confidential government documents on surveillance programmes, violating the law but arguing a moral duty to inform the public about actions undertaken in their name and against them. Some view him as a whistle-blower defending privacy…” Treat each scoring limb separately instead of writing a general note on Case Studies — Individual Morality.

DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Map the stakeholders, facts, competing obligations and the ethical/public-interest conflict embedded in the case≈65 words
  2. 2Answer each explicit sub-question in the case and compare feasible options using legality, consequences, rights, fairness and integrity≈65 words
  3. 3Choose and justify an implementable course of action, including safeguards, accountability and follow-through≈65 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Key facts and stakeholdersEthical/legal issuesRealistic options with consequencesReasoned choiceImplementation safeguards and accountability

Where marks usually go

  • Writing generally about Case Studies — Individual Morality without directly resolving: “Edward Snowden disclosed confidential government documents on surveillance programmes, violating the law but arguing a moral duty to inform the public about actions undertake…”
  • Under-developing the second scoring limb: “Some view him as a whistle-blower defending privacy”

Value addition

  • Stakeholder map + options-versus-values decision matrix
    → Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.

Official source anchors

These are authoritative sources selected for this exact PYQ. Where a card is an official-domain anchor rather than a fact-level citation, verify the precise provision, definition or data point on the linked source before using it.