Ethics and the future of spying: technology, national security and intelligence collection

摘要

Focused upon intelligence and espionage in the post-Snowden, post-Manning environment, the chapters included in Ethics and the Future of Spying examine both the societal implications and potential human costs of spying, often in connection with 'just war' theories. While casual readers may require an introduction to the more philosophical elements discussed, overall the authors provide a thoughtful consideration of their subject which students of ethics, international relations, security studies, military and intelligence history, and political science may find quite valuable. Moreover, the authors are generally understanding of actions taken by Edward Snowden, particularly in light of the insight that the leaked documents have allowed the general population to acquire. This perspective, while certainly important given the associated privacy concerns and constitutional complexities, may seem to be a minority position given the views of certain other military and government officials, and thus is important to keep in mind (pp. 49, 205-215).