New documents shed light on the Justice Dept's secret rules for targeting journalists with National Security Letters
In July 2015, Freedom of the Press Foundation sued the Justice Department (DOJ) over the agency’s secret rules governing how the FBI can target members of the media with due …
US officials have no problem leaking classified information about surveillance—as long as it fits their narrative
In the past few days there have been a flurry of stories about the Russian plane that crashed in the Sinai peninsula, which investigators reportedly think may have been caused …
Journalists around the world stand up in support of Netzpolitik after outrageous 'treason' investigation
Last week, the German government informed the popular news site Netzpolitik that two of its journalists were under investigation for treason for reporting on their government's mass surveillance programs - …
Snowden DoublePlusUngood: Continuing shades of Orwell in the NSA saga
It was great to read this Edward Snowden New York Times op-ed—great because the piece is as thoughtful and informative as you’d expect, and even better because it’s an …
Our statement on Congress passing the USA Freedom Act, the NSA 'reform' bill
Today the Senate passed a version of the USA Freedom Act, a bill touted by its authors as surveillance reform that will end the NSA’s mass, suspicionless collection of …
British spy agency intercepted emails of journalists, considers them 'threats' alongside terrorists and hackers
Newly disclosed documents from Edward Snowden, revealed today by the Guardian, show that the British spy agency (and close NSA partner) GCHQ intercepted emails from many of the US …
Watch Barrett Brown explain why journalists should be covering intel contractors two years before Snowden
Today, a judge in Dallas will decide the fate of journalist Barrett Brown, who is being sentenced in a case that has been fraught with controversy and deplorable conduct …
Cognitive Dissonance about the FBI and NSA at 60 Minutes
60 Minutes, which has been harshly criticized for running puff pieces for the NSA and FBI recently, is at it again. Last night, they ran two unrelated yet completely conflicting …
It’s Time for a Real Debate on Reader Privacy
Last week longtime local publisher Howard Owens, founder of the online news site the Batavian, launched a new publication covering Wyoming County in upstate New York. Buried in a parenthetical …
When Can the FBI Use National Security Letters to Go After Journalists? That’s Classified
Two weeks ago, the DOJ Inspector General released a report on the FBI’s use of National Security Letters (NSLs)—the controversial (and unconstitutional) surveillance instruments used to gather personal information …