ACLU Files Info Request on Government Spying on Nonprofits - December 14, 2004 Vol.5, No.25

December 14, 2004 Vol.5, No.25:

Published: 12/13/2004

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ACLU Files Info Request on Government Spying on Nonprofits

The Dec. 1 issue of USA Today reports the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed Freedom of Information Act requests to learn the extent of “surveillance, questioning and interrogation” of people associated with activist groups and individuals traveling to and from the Middle East. The request focuses on the activities of anti-terrorist task forces in ten states, including Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas.

The anti-terrorism task forces are made up of combined local, state and federal law enforcement personnel. The program has expanded from 34 task forces in 2001 to 100 in 2004. The ACLU has also questioned the ongoing participation of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) personnel in illegal investigations of U.S. citizens. The CIA claims its officers are acting as advisors, not investigators.