Thirty-eight years before Edward Snowden’s leaks, the NSA was embroiled in its first scandal over secret surveillance. A review of that history reminds us that abuses, even severe ones, can be met by investigation, broad debate, and reform.
According to a Pew Research poll, the majority of Americans believe the government's claims that the harvesting of domestic phone records is legal. The law, however, says otherwise.
Section 215 of the Patriot Act allows the government to collect data as long as that data is “relevant” to a terrorism or foreign intelligence investigation. Recent news that the government has spied on millions of Americans brings into questions how this law is being used.
Following the revelation that the NSA was collecting phone records of millions of customers, how did the FBI and NSA maneuver rules and regulations to collect, mine, and use collected data?
You might think the government would be satisfied that Bradley Manning has entered a guilty plea that could put him away for 20 years. Instead, in the court martial that began Monday, prosecutors are reaching for more.
Although President Obama outlined positive new actions in his recent counter-terrorism speech, he failed to address a number of key questions and policy changes needed for reform.
On March 19, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, announced a proposal to establish an Inspector General for the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Oversight of the nation's biggest police department will be critical in ensuring respect for the basic rights of thousands of the city's LGBT inhabitants.
Overclassification is a threat to our democracy and our national security alike. But the key to tackling it is within reach. President Obama should adopt measures to introduce accountability into the system.
