FBI Sued For Records On National Security Letter Gag Order Reviews

National security letters are secret government demands directing companies to turn over data on private citizens without a warrant.

Nicholas Iovino
By Nicholas Iovino
This photo shows a portion of a National Security Letter written in November 2007. (Photo from the Federal Bureau of Investigation via Wikimedia Commons)

The Justice Department refuses to turn over records on the FBI’s compliance with requirements that it periodically review and lift national security letter gag orders, the Electronic Frontier Foundation claims in a new lawsuit. National security letters are secret government demands directing companies to turn over data on private citizens

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Do ‘National Security Letters’ Violate The 1st Amendment?

National security letters are so wrought with potential for abuse that EFF describes them as “one of the most frightening and invasive” facets of the PATRIOT Act.

Derrick Broze
By Derrick Broze
A judge ruled in January that the FBI had acted in a manner ‘fundamentally at odds with’ the Freedom of Information Act.

The question is at the heart of an ongoing court battle between the Federal Bureau of Investigations and two communications service providers represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. EFF is representing CREDO Mobile and Cloudflare in their efforts to defend themselves against the use of the controversial national security letters (NSL).

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Leaked Docs Reveal FBI Use Of National Security Letters To Spy On Journalists

‘The other major question here is: why are these rules secret in the first place?’

Deirdre Fulton
By Deirdre Fulton
Thomas Drake | National Security Agency

Newly leaked documents published by The Intercept expose just how easy it is for the FBI to spy on journalists using so-called National Security Letters (NSLs). The classified rules, which had previously been released only in heavily redacted form, "show that the FBI imposes few constraints on itself when it bypasses the requirement to go to

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FBI Request To Tech Companies Made Public For First Time

“There’s a behind the curtains push” to pressure “groups who either don’t want to fight or are otherwise inclined to help the FBI get the records they want. And it’s all happening in secret.”

Sputnik News
By Sputnik News
GOOGLE PRIVACY

For several years internet and tech companies have been struggling with federal agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI, over whether companies must legally furnish private user data without a warrant. This ongoing conflict, happening largely behind the scenes, was brought to public attention earlier this month when

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Yahoo! Warns Users Of FBI’s Malicious Tactics To Obtain Persona Data

“We believe this is an important step toward enriching a more open and transparent discussion about the legal authorities law enforcement can leverage to access user data,” Yahoo! stated.

Claire Bernish
By Claire Bernish
A man holds up his phone during a rally in support of data privacy outside the Apple store Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in San Francisco. Protesters assembled in more than 30 cities to lash out at the FBI for obtaining a court order that requires Apple to make it easier to unlock an encrypted iPhone used by a gunman in December's mass murders in California. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

For the first time since the implementation of the USA Freedom Act, Yahoo! published three National Security Letters — perhaps the most secretive and contentious method the FBI has for obtaining information on individuals — after the lifting of repressive and equally-contentious gag orders. Mainstays of the USA PATRIOT Act, National Security

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