Espionage Act of 1917

The Espionage Act of 1917 is a United States federal law enacted on June 15, 1917, to prohibit interference with military operations, prevent insubordination in the military, and prevent support of enemies of the United States during wartime. The law was originally intended to prevent the disclosure of national defense information to unauthorized individuals and imposed severe penalties, including the death penalty. The law has been amended numerous times and has been used to prosecute notable figures such as Eugene V. Debs, Emma Goldman, and Edward Snowden for various offenses related to espionage and national security. The constitutionality of the law and its relationship to free speech have been contested in court since its enactment, with the Supreme Court ruling in Schenck v. United States that the act did not violate the freedom of speech of those convicted under its provisions.learn more on wikipedia