Intelligence & Surveillance
Just Security’s expert authors provide legal and policy analysis of intelligence and surveillance activities, focusing on their impact on national security and on civil liberties and privacy rights, and their oversight by Congress and the courts.
1,837 Articles
Congress’ Access to Individuals’ Private Communications: The Jan. 6 Committee’s Troubling Precedent
How and why federal law — Stored Communications Act — and Constitution may block January 6 Committee’s ability to subpoena telecommunications content.
In the Wake of the January 6 Attacks, Will Congress and the Administration Heed the Lessons of 9/11?
The need to respond forcefully to the insurrection should not be conflated with the need for new legal authorities.
The Executive Branch Needs Intelligence Oversight Reform
The PIOB and PCLOB should be combined into a single White House civil liberties and compliance office, with an expanded mission.
Paradigm Shift: The Consequences of Choosing a War Path, and Leaving It
We owe it to the next generation to grapple now with the consequences of remaining at war -- as well as the consequences of choosing not to be -- lest we find ourselves reflexively…
The Legacy of 9/11: Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Spotlights and Blind Spots
(Editor’s note: This essay is part of a Symposium published for the twentieth anniversary of September 11th; co-organized by Just Security and the Reiss Center on Law and Security.)…
The Costs of 9/11’s Suspicionless Surveillance: Suppressing Communities of Color and Political Dissent
The domestic intelligence system has grown dramatically since 9/11, often targeting Muslims, people of color, and political movements. It's time to rethink the system.
Five Principles to End the Forever War
A comprehensive and detailed guide to ending the Forever War and enhancing American security.
In the “War on Terror,” What Did Rights Organizations Get Wrong?
A leading human rights lawyer raises provocative questions about track record of U.S. human rights organizations. An essay in advance of a live event on Thursday night to discuss…
Nuremberg Prosecutor says Guantanamo Military Commissions Don’t Measure Up
In an upcoming filing, the last living Nuremberg prosecutor, Benjamin B. Ferencz, says there is "very limited comparison" between the Guantanamo military commissions and the Nuremberg…
Former Chair of U.S. National Intelligence Council: Learning the Right Lessons from Afghanistan
"The example of the Iraqi army — which quickly collapsed in the Islamic State’s 2014 blitz across northern Iraq — ought to have sharpened the concerns about the Afghan…
CIA’s Former Counterterrorism Chief for the Region: Afghanistan, Not An Intelligence Failure — Something Much Worse
"While it’s certainly convenient to depict the shock and miscalculation U.S. officials claim over Afghanistan’s tragic, rapid fall to the Taliban as an intelligence failure,…
Artificial Intelligence in the Intelligence Community: Culture is Critical
The US intelligence community must prioritize addressing its own internal culture in order to engage effectively in the global AI race.