07.09.2014 - 06:09 [ Techdirt ]

When Can The FBI Use National Security Letters To Go After Journalists? Why, 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 of Americans without any prior oversight from a judge. In a little-noticed passage buried in the report, the IG describes how NSLs have been used on journalists in the past, and indicates that the FBI can currently circumvent the Justice Department‘s media guidelines to do so in the future.

When and precisely how can they do so? Well, apparently that‘s classified.