NSA Surveillance Placing A “Chilling Effect” on the Press

Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union have released a joint report, entitled “With Liberty to Monitor All: How Large-Scale US Surveillance is Harming Journalism, Law, and American Democracy,” based on extensive interviews with dozens of journalists, lawyers, and senior US government officials. The 120-page report   documents how national security journalists and lawyers are adopting elaborate steps or otherwise modifying their practices to keep communications, sources, and other confidential information secure in light of revelations of unprecedented US government surveillance of electronic communications and transactions. The report finds that government surveillance and secrecy are undermining press freedom, the public’s right to information, and the right to counsel, all human rights essential to a healthy democracy.

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