Civil Liberties
169 Articles

To Battle Russian Disinformation, Ukraine Mimics … Russia
In the five years since the conflict between Ukraine and Russia began, several Ukrainian initiatives have been introduced to reduce the influence of Russian disinformation and…

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.

India’s Digital Path: Leaning Democratic or Authoritarian?
As the two largest democracies in the world, India and the United States should be working together to combat this abuse of technology. But India has taken some troubling steps…

In 2019, Will the Global March of Authoritarianism Turn Into a Stampede … or a Slog?
The global march of authoritarianism is off to a vigorous start this year. And if 2018 and the impending milestones of 2019 are any indication, the standoff between democracy and…

New Approach After Charlottesville Violence Protects Public Safety While Preserving Rights
When right-wing nationalists try to weaponize the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, states can use their own constitutional and statutory provisions to prohibit private…

What Not To Believe About Interpol—Exploding Five Myths
If Interpol is to be fixed so that it operates according to its own rules, it is necessary to know the difference between how it actually works, and the myths that are widely believed.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board’s Disappointing Report on PPD-28 Implementation
Edward Snowden’s revelations that the NSA engaged in massive spying operations overseas prompted outrage and political blowback from our closest allies. In an attempt to manage…

European Counter-Terrorism Approaches: A Slow and Insidious Erosion of Fundamental Rights
A recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, titled, “Europe to Terrorists: It’s No More Monsieur Nice Guy,” praised the robustness of the recent European approach to counterterrorism,…

On Big Brother Watch v. U.K.: The Future of Surveillance at Two Europe-Wide Courts
A recent opinion by the European Court of Human Rights was more limited than recent decisions concerning surveillance. The European Court of Justice should seize the opportunity…

Brennan’s Due Process Case Against the White House
In an unprecedented move, the White House announced that President Donald Trump was revoking the security clearance of John Brennan, the CIA director in the Obama administration.…

France’s Creeping Terrorism Laws Restricting Free Speech
French prosecutors have been aggressively pursuing anyone who speaks positively of a terrorist act or group even if their intention is not to incite violence or promote the group.

Happy PATRIOT Act Day!
On this day, 16 years ago, President George W. Bush signed into law the most sweeping, publicly acknowledged domestic surveillance authority in American history. Enacted six weeks…