After Snowden

June 15, 2015

Attorney Goldfarb (In Confidence) edits and provides the introduction and epilog to this collection of essays by government and policy experts. Each contributor focuses on an aspect of what the leaks by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden mean for America in areas including rights, security, and mass surveillance. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Barry Siegel's (English, Univ. of California, Irvine; Claim of Privilege) "Judging State Secrets: Who Decides--And How?" is one of the strongest pieces. He provides a fascinating history of the court decisions that have both allowed and challenged the executive branch's use of the "state secrets privilege" in cases involving national security issues. Edward Wasserman's (dean, Graduate Sch. of Journalism at Univ. of California, Berkeley) "Protecting News in the Era of Disruptive Sources" is also powerful and examines the impact of "disruptive sources," those outside the traditional journalist/source relationship (e.g., whistleblowers such as Snowden), and the need for a better system of source protection. His writing could serve as a great discussion piece in journalism ethics classes. Some essays overlap on common topics such as FISA courts. VERDICT Readers interested in the legal, political, and journalistic ramifications of national security leaks, including students in these areas, will find these essays accessible and discover much to consider in them. For more about Snowden's disclosures, try Glenn Greenwald's excellent No Place To Hide. [See Prepub Alert, 11/15/14.]--Amanda Mastrull, Library Journal

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2014

With Edward Snowden's revelations of mass surveillance by the National Security Agency still reverberating mightily, seven experts gather here to discuss the crucial issues: Was Snowden a hero or a traitor, and where do we draw the line between privacy rights and government secrecy for the sake of security? Washington lawyer and literary agent Goldfarb introduces the debate and has commitments from all the contributors to participate in a possible PBS documentary, a one-day symposium, and more.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.