Metropolitan Model United Nations Conference XLII Security Council

State-Sponsored Espionage and Surveillance of Other Governments

Recent events have brought to light the international implications of state-sponsored cyber espionage, by which governments use media sources and computer tracking to oversee the actions of foreign administrations. Most notably, a former United States National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, Edward Snowden, leaked details about a massive U.S. surveillance campaign to international media organizations. Although hailed by some as a champion of transparency and open governments, the United States government generally views Snowden as a whistleblower. According to Matthew dAncona of the Daily Telegraph and Evening Standard, The potential scope of the surveillance system said to exist by Snowden is essentially limitless. In late October 2013, the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, supported proposals that would force U.S. technology and mobile phone companies to seek permission before distributing EU citizens data to U.S. intelligence agencies. In early November 2013, Germany and Brazil submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council requesting an end to excessive intergovernmental surveillance, data collection, and other gross invasions of privacy. This resolution did not criticize the actions of any specific nations, but was clearly aimed at the United States. The Germany-Brazil draft calls upon U.N. member states to take measures to put an end to violations of [privacy] rights and to create conditions to prevent such violations, including by ensuring that relevant national legislation complies with their obligations under international human rights law. Spearheading this resolution are Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose private mobile phone was tracked and observed by the U.S. National Security Agency. Both Rousseff and Merkel have publicly condemned the American surveillance program, citing the historically favorable relationships their countries share with the United States. The question at hand essentially concerns transparency: do we as an international community favor open governments, those that make information publicly available for their citizens and avoid secrecy to a reasonable extent? Or should nations avoid disclosing controversial

information to their citizens, and instead erect a barrier of knowledge between the government and the people? According to Chris Inglis, Deputy Director of the NSA, I do think there needs to be more transparency. I do think we have to consider the balance between secrecy and transparency in order to have the publics confidence or [that of] those who stand in the shoes of the public and act on their behalf, say in the [American] Congress. Considering the profound impact of social media on our global society, it is also important to acknowledge services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instragram that allow for the easy and immediate share of information. These websites democratize the international playing field, allowing for instant communication among people who live great distances apart. The information that social media can provide is truly unbounded. Consider the following quote from Lord King, the former [British] Tory Defense Secretary who chaired the Cross-Party Intelligence and Security Committee: It is incredible to think how things have changed in the cyber world. Now you have the whole world of Twitter and Facebook, and all the other paraphernalia. Legislation has to keep up to date with all these things and the way people use them. I think it is most important that all the legislation in this area is under regular review. Delegates in the Security Council must consider the impact that state-sponsored espionage and surveillance has on international relations. As globalization progresses, the issues of transparency and the sharing of information will become increasingly relevant. Questions to Consider: Has your nation participated in state-sponsored espionage and surveillance of other governments? Has another nation intercepted the passage of information in your nation? Have your governmental officials been spied on? How can we manage issues of transparency as we concurrently confront globalization? Does your nation monitor its citizens? If so, how? Why? Have there been negative responses to this surveillance?

Helpful Links: www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/10/surveillance-global-view-debate

www.frontpagemag.com/2013/joseph-klein/latin-american-foreign-ministers-bash-u-s-surveillanceprogram/print/

www.libya360.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/brazilian-president-dilma-rousseff-at-the-un-ussurveillance-an-affront/

www.thehindu.com/news/national/snooping-is-serious-violation-of-national-sovereignty-andindividual-rights-khurshid/article5172260.ece?css=print