Americans split by age over fate of Snowden

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT The question of Edward Snowden's status has led to a vast amount of public comment in America. By some, Snowden is reviled as a traitor who has provided America's enemies with valuable intelligence and harmed the ability of the US government to defend its citizens. Others find Snowden's actions to be praiseworthy, calling attention to a shadowy intelligence network that had not only violated the law, but also deceived members of Congress. Today, with Snowden's expressed willingness to return to the US if he can somehow strike a deal with the government over his charges, the question of where he stands in most Americans' eyes is more important than ever before. Unfortunately for Snowden, the US people have less sympathy for his cause than most outside the country do. Polls have consistently shown that he enjoys greater support abroad than domestically. This is unsurprising, not simply due to the nature of his revelations, but the fact that it is easier to support an individual when his actions antagonize a foreign nation. In addition, Snowden's decision to seek refuge in Russia may have contributed to the negative impression many Americans have of him, both due to memories of the Cold War and the current chill in the relationship between the two nations. However logical his action was, it definitely impacted how he was seen in the US. A recent poll commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) indicates that about 64 percent of those Americans who know about Snowden see him in a negative light. Polls conducted before his move to Russia showed a higher degree of US support for Snowden. While these poll results may seem to be a dangerous portent for Snowden's chances in the US, when they are divided by age, it becomes clear that hostility toward Snowden is very generational in nature. Millennials, those individuals ranging between 18 to 34 years old, show a far greater degree of support for Snowden than other age brackets. In the ACLU poll, 56 percent of American Millennials see Snowden in a positive light. The reasons for this support are likely to be varied. It is important to remember that younger individuals are usually more suspicious of the government than their elders. After all, while commonly seen as a conservative group today, the Baby Boomer generation was also the generation of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and the slogan "Don't trust anyone over 30." It is unsurprising that their Millennial descendants are following in their parents' footsteps regarding their concerns about government surveillance. Additionally, Millennials are often more aware of how pervasive the NSA's programs have been. As the generation that grew up alongside the rise of the Internet, they understand just how fragile privacy can be in the face of massive computerized state surveillance programs. To these individuals, Snowden is a hero for showing just how far the government was willing to go in its quest to obtain information. This generational divide may in fact benefit Snowden. To be blunt, Millennials will be here long after the Baby Boomers have gone to dust and as such, their opinions should be carefully considered by the US government. In 2015, Millennials surpassed the Baby Boom generation in numbers and by 2020, they may very well account for a third of the adult population. Given Snowden's position in outing the existence of this growing surveillance state, American Millennials are unlikely to look fondly on government actions that appear to be vengeful in nature. This is especially true given President Barack Obama's reputation for striking out against whistle-blowers and leaks of all kinds. On the other hand, however, a far higher percentage of older Americans vote than the young. Unless Millennials make themselves felt at the ballot box, their views are less relevant. Ultimately, where any given American stands regarding Snowden is largely dependent on where he or she stands regarding US surveillance programs. Those who tend to regard the claims that these programs are a vital part of defending against terrorists with skepticism will often find themselves agreeing with Snowden's position. Those who believe the government's claims that these programs have helped ensure that the US remains safe from the terrorist threat are more likely to see Snowden as a traitor rather than a defender of Americans' privacy. Whatever the outcome for Snowden, the debate between the need for security and the right of the people to retain their privacy is unlikely to be resolved by this affair. The only thing we can hope for is that the American public continues to be made aware of just how important this issue is for the future.