thenatureofmind

In the One-sided Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, It's Hard to Get The Whole Story

While most courts in the United States are adversarial—each party presents its side and a jury, or occasionally a judge, makes a decision—in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), only the government presents its case to a judge. While typically two opposing sides work under public review to make sure all the facts are brought to light, in the FISC the system relies on a heightened duty of candor for the government. As is illustrated all too well by recent developments in our First Unitarian v. NSA case, this one-sided court system is fundamentally unfair.

In the One-sided Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, It's Hard to Get The Whole Story | Electronic Frontier Foundation.

How a Court Secretly Evolved, Extending U.S. Spies’ Reach

Ten months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the nation’s surveillance court delivered a ruling that intelligence officials consider a milestone in the secret history of American spying and privacy law. Called the “Raw Take” order — classified docket No. 02-431 — it weakened restrictions on sharing private information about Americans, according to documents and interviews.

The administration of President George W. Bush, intent on not overlooking clues about Al Qaeda, had sought the July 22, 2002, order. It is one of several still-classified rulings by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court described in documents provided by Edward J. Snowden, the formerNational Security Agency contractor.

How a Court Secretly Evolved, Extending U.S. Spies’ Reach - NYTimes.com.