How the US government spies on people who protest -- including you | Jennifer Granick

We Are All Activists Now

The Rise of Activism

• The speaker emphasizes that everyone has become an activist, citing various movements such as Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter.

• Concerns about surveillance are raised, highlighting how it affects activists across different causes, including education funding and immigration.

Historical Context of Surveillance

• The speaker discusses the historical abuses of surveillance, particularly against marginalized groups based on race, sexual orientation, and political beliefs.

• Reference to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech illustrates how controversial activism was at the time.

J. Edgar Hoover's Role in Surveillance

• J. Edgar Hoover's FBI surveilled Dr. King to undermine the Civil Rights Movement by collecting compromising information.

• A letter sent to Dr. King encouraged him to commit suicide, showcasing the extreme lengths Hoover went to discredit activists.

Government Support for Surveillance Practices

• Hoover had bipartisan support from presidents like John F. Kennedy regarding surveillance practices against civil rights leaders.

• COINTELPRO was a program designed to spy on civic groups advocating for civil rights and peace.

Consequences of Surveillance Abuse

• Events like Watergate highlighted the dangers of unchecked surveillance used against political opponents.

• Reforms were implemented requiring search warrants for government access to private communications, aiming to protect citizens' rights.

Modern Surveillance Technologies

Evolving Nature of Surveillance

• Today's technology allows for extensive data collection beyond traditional phone calls and letters; personal information can be easily accessed by authorities.

Facial Recognition and Tracking

• The Republican National Convention in 2012 introduced facial recognition technology aimed at identifying potential troublemakers among attendees.

License Plate Detection Technology

The Golden Age of Surveillance

The Availability of Personal Information

• A wide array of personal data, including license plates, faceprints, phone records, and online photos, is now easily accessible without a warrant requirement. This marks a significant shift towards increased surveillance capabilities.

• The speaker emphasizes that this situation represents a "golden age for surveillance," where the government can access information about ordinary citizens at minimal cost.

Government's Evolving Capabilities

• The analogy of a child climbing out of a crib illustrates the difference between ability and permission; while the government has gained the technological ability to conduct mass surveillance, it must still adhere to legal permissions.

• The importance of law is highlighted as essential in preventing governmental abuse of surveillance technologies. Laws should dictate when and how such powers can be exercised.

Failures in Legal Protections

• Since September 11, there has been a noted decline in effective legal protections against government overreach in surveillance practices.

• Fusion centers are criticized for targeting individuals based on political beliefs or affiliations rather than actual threats, indicating misuse of resources intended to combat domestic terrorism.

Civil Liberties Concerns

• There are alarming instances where civil liberties have been compromised, such as disproportionate audits by the IRS based on political affiliations and invasive questioning by customs officials regarding social media passwords.

• The speaker warns that using federal surveillance powers against political opposition constitutes tyranny and poses risks to all citizens.

Call to Action for Reform

• To counteract these issues, individuals are encouraged to use encryption as a means to protect their information from unauthorized collection.

• Awareness is raised about Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act which allows warrantless searches through collected data; reforming this law is presented as an urgent necessity before its expiration at the end of 2017.

Need for Transparency

• Emphasizing transparency in government actions related to surveillance is crucial. Citizens need insight into what their government does in their name to ensure accountability.