Espionage Act of 1917

What Does the Espionage Act prevent?

• Conveying information intended to interfer w/ US armed forces
• To promote the enemies success, in time of war

What Does the Espionage Act prevent?

• Conveying information intended to interfer w/ US armed forces
• To promote the enemies success, in time of war

What i Am proving

• The Espionage act of 1917, doesn't violate first amendment rights.
• In many cases, the first amendment rights should be eliminated.
• The balance between, individual and federal rights is balanced.

Without the espionage act

• The government would not be able to hide anything from enemies
• Everybody would be able to see a vital piece of info and distribute it
• The government has the authority to use the Espionage act, when they want

It has been used recently

• Since 1945 in all of the administrations only 11 cases have been recorded
• The Obama administration has used it 7 out of the 11

Samuel L. Louring vs United states

• classified photos of Soviet Nuclear powered vessels
• Distributed the photographs to the press
• He said it violated his first amendment rights
• -- 1st amendment rights did not encompass unauthorized leaks
• Found guilty under, violation of the Espionage act, and embezzlement

Charles schenk v. United stateS

• Schenk believed the espionage act violated his 1st amendment rights.
• He was charged with distribution of provocation flyers to WWI draftees.
• Courts believed he was trying to cause military and naval insubordination
• Decision made in 1917, Guilty in all counts...

Wikileaks

• Half of the 250,000 cables that wiki leaks gave out were classified.
• Articles from anonymous sources from around the world...
• Julian Assange and the Espionage act

Counter Argument - Why it is wrong

• Edward Snowden 
• gave info out on NSA's domestic surveilence programs
• Felt America should know about the surveilence program

Counter Argument - Why it is wrong

• Hamdi v Rumsfeld
• was captured overseas
• the US believed he had been giving important information out
• was found not guilty
• unlawfully imprisoned and he hadnt got the right to a fair trial

END