Surveillance After 9/11

Introduction Following the attacks on September 11th of 2001, surveillance initiatives and technologies in the United States increased notably in attempts to combat terrorism. Suspicions of foreigners and combative foreign policy characterized this time period.

History of Surveillance in the US Olmstead v. United States (1928): The Court ruled that neither the Fourth nor Fifth Amendment rights were violated by the wiretaps attached by law enforcement to the phone lines of prohibition conspirators, as there was no physical trespass.

Katz v. United States (1967): The court ruled that wiretapping public phonebooths was, in fact, constitutional. This overturned Olmstead v. United States.

COINTELPRO : COINTELPRO, or “Counter Intelligence Program” was an FBI surveillant initiative to hamper significant social movements in the 1960s. Though it started to stop the spread of communism, it eventually turned into an attempt to expose and neutralize the activities of “Black Nationalists”. The Counter Intelligence Program’s agenda led to the assassination of Malcolm X and other notable leaders of the Black Panther Party.

(https://the-ard.com/2021/04/08/learn-about-cointelpro-anti-racism-daily/)

Surveillance of Japanese Americans During World War II Since 1917, the FBI had been monitoring Japanese plantation labor organizers in Hawai’i, especially after witnessing their support for Black Nationalist groups and in hopes of quelling Asian-Black radical solidarity. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the FBI and other federal agencies. As war with Japan came closer, President Roosevelt created a task force to place Japanese Hawaiians with any connection to Japanese sailors on a special list of people to be placed in a concentration camp in the event of trouble. (https://densho.org/catalyst/of-spies-and-gmen/) Over 127,000 Japanese-Americans were placed in internment camps as a result of surveillance and anti-Asian hysteria.

The USA PATRIOT Act

Surveillance Post 9/11 Transportation Security Administration The Transportation Security Administration, more widely known as TSA, was established on November 19th, 2001 by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act required “screening conducted by federal officials, 100 percent checked baggage screening, expansion of the Federal Air Marshal Service, and reinforced cockpit doors.” (https://www.tsa.gov/timeline). By 2002, the TSA installed explosive detection systems nationwide. In 2003, the TSA began training flight staff to carry and use firearms.