Government Watchlists and Databses
Reports from the U.S Government critical of the watchlist system:
- Justice Department: Review of the Terrorist Screening Center, June 2005
- Justice Department: The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Terrorist Watchlist Nomination Practices, May 2009
- Department of Homeland Security: DHS Challenges in Consolidating Terrorist Watch List Information, August 2004
- GAO Report to Congressional Requesters: Terrorist Watch Lists Should Be Consolidated to Promote Better Integration and Sharing, April 2003
- House Committee on Science and Technology: Congressional Memo Regarding Technical Flaws in the Terrorist Watch List, August 2008
Gov’t Watchlists and Databases
Government Watchlists and Databases Overview
Headlines & Opinion
- MEK Remains On Terror List
- Eight Year Battle for Removal from UN Terrorism Blacklist Succeeds
- World-Check: The Dangers of Privatizing Terrorist Lists
- Privacy Groups Oppose Proposed Secret DHS Watchlist Database
- Treasury Proposes Massive Expansion of Info Collection on International Wire Transfers
- Governor Apologizes for State Treating Activists as Terrorists
- Appeals Court Orders Due Process to Fix State Dept. Listing of Foreign Terrorist Organization
- UN’s Improved Listing Process Receives Praise from State's Top Counterterrorism Official
- Are Terrorist Lists Doing Their Job?
- Fusion Centers' New Access to Military Intelligence Raises Concerns
- Critics Object to Proposed “Watch List” Secrecy
- U.S. Terrorist Watchlists: More Problem than Solution
- Hearing Calls for Improved Intelligence Gathering Strategies That Protect Free Speech
Resources
- List of Charities Designated, Shut Down, or Both, by Treasury Department
- Department of State’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)
- In a Bad SPOT: Why a Military Database for NGOs Is Impractical
- Audit Says FBI's Watchlist Riddled With Errors
Reports
- DOJ: Review of the Terrorist Screening Center
- DOJ: The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Terrorist Watchlist Nomination Practices
- DHS: DHS Challenges in Consolidating Terrorist Watch List Information
- GAO: Terrorist Watch Lists Should Be Consolidated to Promote Better Integration and Sharing
- House Committee on Science and Technology: Congressional Memo Regarding Technical Flaws in the Terrorist Watch List
Eight Year Battle for Removal from UN Terrorism Blacklist Succeeds
Eight years after being acquitted of all terrorism related charges, on May 7, 2012 a Tunisian resident of Italy was removed from the United Nations’ al-Qaida terrorism blacklist. Kamel Darraji had been kept on the list by the U.S. and Italian governments on the basis that he was connected with al-Qaida, despite a lack of evidence linking him to the group. Many observers say Darraji ’s ordeal reveals major flaws with the entire UN blacklisting process, violating basic human rights and failing to provide any redress if an individual or organization is wrongfully listed.
MEK Remains On Terror List
A decision by the State Department about removing an Iranian dissident group from the U.S. list of foreign terror groups could be made within 60 days, a Justice Department lawyer told a federal court on May 8, 2012. Speaking at the hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, lawyers for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) argued that the State Department must comply with a lower court's previous order from 2010 and make a decision on the group’s status. Despite its designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. in 1997, the MEK has the support of many prominent former U.S. officials who are being paid to speak out against the group's listing.
Department of State’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)
Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) are foreign organizations that are designated by the Secretary of State. As of January 2012:
World-Check: The Dangers of Privatizing Terrorist Lists
The last ten years has seen rapid growth of private companies that sell lists of people and organizations that are either on a government terrorist list or have been mentioned in news stories, blogs and unverified online sources as having suspected ties to terrorists. With the size and scope of these organizations, concerns have been raised over the lack of accountability and redress for innocent people who find themselves on such lists. This is particularly problematic in the context of charitable giving and program operation.
Privacy Groups Oppose Proposed Secret DHS Watchlist Database
Opposing a Department of Homeland Security proposal to exempt its new anti-terror database from Privacy Act provisions, a coalition of privacy, consumer rights, and civil rights organizations filed comments on Aug. 5, 2011. The groups argue that the Terror Screening Watchlist Service carries “substantial” risks both to security and privacy, and call for it to be withdrawn. The database will contain individuals’ names, dates and places of birth, biometric and photographic data, passport information, driver's license information and “other available identifying particulars,” but will not be subject to basic safeguards or review. Read more about it at OMB Watch: Secret Watchlists: Don’t Ask, Because Uncle Sam Won’t Tell
Treasury Proposes Massive Expansion of Info Collection on International Wire Transfers
On Sept. 30, 2010 the Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published proposed regulations that would require banks to report all electronic cross border financial transfers, dramatically expanding the current rule that requires reporting transfers over $10,000. International grants, purchasing, program operation costs of charities that involve international electronic transfers will be covered by this rule. Comments are due Dec. 29. On Sept. 28 the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on the effectiveness and burdens in current reporting requirements.
Governor Apologizes for State Treating Activists as Terrorists
On Sept. 14, 2010, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell ended a state contract with a private firm that improperly collected and distributed information about protestors and activists. Rendell said information about environmental protests, a gay rights rally and other peaceful gatherings became the subject of anti-terrorism bulletins being distributed by the state’s homeland security department to law enforcement and members of the private sector. The Governor apologized for the bulletins, which went out three times a week and were not intended to be made public, calling the wrongful dissemination of information a violation of constitutional rights.
In a Bad SPOT: Why a Military Database for NGOs Is Impractical
The U.S. army’s Synchronized Pre-Deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) system is a military database that indefinitely stores detailed personnel data of contractors’ employees working in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recipients of federal grants, and their sub-grantees, are required to register with SPOT before beginning their projects. For Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) operating relief and development programs in these two countries, meeting the requirements of SPOT is impracticable, and may jeopardize their employees’ safety and the effectiveness of their programs.
Appeals Court Orders Due Process to Fix State Dept. Listing of Foreign Terrorist Organization
On July 15, 2010 a long running battle by an Iranian group to get off the State Department's (State) list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) reached a new stage when the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ordered State to reconsider listing of the People's Mujaheddin Organization of Iran (PMOI). The court said State must provide PMOI an opportunity to rebut the unclassified information State had relied on. The ruling reflects the same due process problems recognized by federal courts found in Department of Treasury (Treasury) designations of two U.S. charities, KindHearts for Charitable and Humanitarian Development and Al-Haramain Oregon.
