Final answer:
The risks of unwarranted and unjustifiable disclosure in the digital age include compromised personal, financial, and medical information, loss of business and governmental operational security, and challenges to free speech and privacy. This complex issue involves balancing government surveillance and individual freedoms in the face of increasing global interconnectivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The risks associated with unwarranted and unjustifiable disclosure of information involve personal, financial, and medical information potentially becoming public, businesses losing operational security, and governments having their classified information compromised. As digital data storage increases, this information can be stolen or used without consent for marketing or other purposes. Furthermore, the interconnectivity of the globe presents additional risks such as the potential for censorship by national governments, as seen in China, and the possibility for the spread of socially deviant behaviors through international media platforms.
Freedom of expression of ideas is a critical part of this issue, where the need to protect privacy and limit free speech can collide with government surveillance and regulation efforts. The rise of social media and digital communication channels has increased the challenges related to securing confidential information while preserving individual freedoms, including the freedom of speech and the press.
The adversarial judicial system relies on the disclosure of information, but this can lead to conflict when the information pertains to national security or personal privacy. An example of this is the concept of reporter's privilege, where journalists offer confidentiality to sources to protect whistleblower freedoms, a practice protected under the First Amendment but also raising concerns about national security. Cases such as Edward Snowden's disclosure of massive internal surveillance highlight the delicate balance between national security and the right to privacy.