I believe it has to do with Snowden and others being able to travel internationally without being stopped.
If Snowden was on a whitelist, you would would have to ask why he was put there and by whom.
Just like the Russian Lawer who met with Kushner and Trump junior. She was put on a white list to get in to the states.
The deepstate has a list that is opposite of the no-fly list. It ensures people who might be stopped, won't be, and it won't raise any red flags.
If you could view the whitelist, you would be able to get a tremendous insight to their machine and who their operatives are.