His revelations have endangered national security by exposing surveillance methods and capabilities that could help protect against potential threats. This information may have aided groups and individuals who threaten security. Snowden violated the Espionage Act, and his lack of accountability or appearance in court is another serious consequence for the law and collective conscience. The exposure of sensitive information negatively impacts operations and how agencies interact with international partners. These actions have affected trust and cooperation on a global level.

Also there is insufficient evidence to show that Snowden's revelations led to significant improvements in surveillance policies or advanced human rights in a measurable way. Snowden's actions have also influenced security policy and led to stricter measures on surveillance, causing some agencies to feel threatened and seek tighter control over their information and operations.