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.
1,846 Articles
Assange Indictment Is Shot Across the Bow of Press Freedom
"The indictment seems to have been drafted not just to justify the prosecution of Assange but to tar legitimate journalistic activities by association with Assange’s alleged…
The Consequences of Legislating Cyberlaw After Terrorist Attacks
Hastily drafted laws passed under pressure tend to create new problems while doing little to counter threats from terrorists and violent extremists.
The Pentagon Wants to Streamline Security Clearances by Using AI. That’s a Dangerous Idea.
If DoD's new autonomous system goes awry, it could embed bias and a resistance to oversight. Is existence alone might jeopardize civil liberties, modify subjects’ behavior in…
Barr the Redactor?
[April 7 UPDATES noted.] In his March 29 letter, Attorney General William Barr informed the Chairs of the congressional Judiciary Committees that the report Special Counsel Robert…
Norms Watch: Damage to Democracy and Rule of Law in March 2019
Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of those norms in reactions…
Revisiting Carter Page
With Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian electoral interference finally complete—even though the public is still waiting to learn what it says—many Republicans are declaring…
The House Oversight Committee Squeeze on White House Security Practices
Over the last several weeks, the House Oversight and Reform Committee has been busy documenting allegations from a whistleblower who stepped forward to raise concerns about security…
The Missing Piece of the Mueller Investigation
What about the counterintelligence aspects of the probe? Where does the counterintelligence investigation now stand? What are the range of findings it may produce? And how may…
Fulfilling the Promise of the USA Freedom Act: Time to Truly End Bulk Collection of Americans’ Calling Records
The new Section 215 "call detail records" program is still ineffective and doesn't justify the privacy threats it poses.
Top 4 Things to Look for in Mueller’s Report in Light of Barr’s Letter
Barr's letter leaves the most important questions at the heart of Mueller's counterintelligence investigation unanswered.
How not to think–and what the Mueller Report won’t tell us–about Trump’s efforts to obstruct the investigation
Back in December, I wrote a post about Bill Barr’s June 2018 memo to DOJ officials. In it, I was sharply critical of Barr’s understanding of the President’s…
Next Step in Disinformation: How a Dating App Becomes a Weapon
A former NATO secretary-general recently voiced concerns that Russia was using Ukraine’s upcoming elections as a laboratory for new forms of interference. A troubling case may…