US: Surveillance Harming Journalism, Law, Democracy | Human Rights Watch

29.7.14

US: Surveillance Harming Journalism, Law, Democracy | Human Rights Watch



(Washington, DC) – Large-scale US surveillance is
seriously hampering US-based journalists and lawyers in their work,
Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union said in a
joint report released today. Surveillance is undermining media freedom
and the right to counsel, and ultimately obstructing the American
people’s ability to hold their government to account, the groups said.



The 120-page report, “With Liberty to Monitor All: How Large-Scale US Surveillance is Harming Journalism, Law, and American Democracy,”
is based on extensive interviews with dozens of journalists, lawyers,
and senior US government officials. It documents how national security
journalists and lawyers are adopting elaborate steps or otherwise
modifying their practices to keep communications, sources, and other
confidential information secure in light of revelations of unprecedented
US government surveillance of electronic communications and
transactions. The report finds that government surveillance and secrecy
are undermining press freedom, the public’s right to information, and
the right to counsel, all human rights essential to a healthy democracy.