Human Rights Watch and ACLU have compiled a report detailing how current United States policies are harming journalism, law and democracy.
Titled With Liberty to Monitor All: How Large-Scale US Surveillance is Harming Journalism, Law, and American Democracy, the introduction of the report states: "For much of its history, the United States has held itself out as a model of freedom, democracy, and open, accountable government. Freedoms of expression and association, as well as rights to a fair trial, are protected by the Constitution, and US officials speak with pride of the freedom of the media to report on matters of public concern and hold government to account for its actions. Yet, as this report documents, today those freedoms are very much under threat due to the government’s own policies concerning secrecy, leak prevention, and officials’ contact with the media, combined with large-scale surveillance programs. If the US fails to address these concerns promptly and effectively, it could do serious, long-term damage to the fabric of democracy in the country."
Download the full report.
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