So how do we differentiate between the "whistleblowers" and the "traitors?" They often are breaking the same laws, involving disclosure of information that the government doesn't want disclosed. Obviously, the government doesn't want a whole slew of military secrets disclosed, but they are just as anxious to keep the public from knowing the extent to which they are watching us.
FTR - I'm not willing to confer hero status on Snowden or the people who made us aware of FBI domestic surveillance, because I could see people like that causing real harm. OTOH, I'm not sorry that the government's spying on us got revealed.
It's very, very easy to differentiate between the two. Why some of these people intentionally try to blur the lines is perplexing, because if they are Americans, they are likely the beneficiary of the whistle blower whereas they would quite possibly be the victim of a traitor. First though, you might go look at the definition of a whistle blower, and check out the laws in place to protect them. Additionally, check out the definition of traitor and note the absence of any laws to protect them. A whistle blower will "blow the whistle" if you will on wrong doing, or crime. If a person, a business or a local, state or federal government is committing a crime and or violating a law or laws and an individual reveals that, it's completely impossible and most ridiculous to classify them as a traitor. And, there are laws to protect them from retribution or revenge.
I own a business and have contracts with the government. I am required by law to inform my employees of both their right, and obligation to report any crime or violation of a law that they witness at the work place, moreover, I have to provide them with names and phone numbers of the appropriate individuals to contact in that event.
A traitor divulges information or supplies aid and comfort or material to a known enemy that might be used to endanger, harm or threaten the security of our country and its citizens (of course if you'll look it up you can get the detailed long version)
Ed Snowden and glenn Greenwald made clear at the outset that both the Guardians attorneys and attorneys from an outside source had reviewed the materials they would be disclosing to ensure there would be nothing that would be damaging to Americas national security. Edward snowdens disclosures document the NSA's violation of all of our civil liberties primarily our fourth amendment rights. And, there are plenty of people such as constitutional lawyers, law professors, politicians from both sides of the isle and judges that have declared the NSA's domestic surveillance program to be unconstitutional.
Snowdens disclosures have sparked a national debate, and are causing foreign governments, ally's of ours to make changes in response.
You would also do yourself a service to look at Senator Church's warning about the NSA in the Church Committees report to congress, and the NSA' s capabilities way back then, 1976, and then imagine what it must be like now with the technological advances in the 37 years since. And hold onto your socks when you read it.