Justice Department Inspector General Warns of Increased Data Collection
The yearend report from the Inspector General at the Department of Justice points to new privacy and civil liberties concerns. The report Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Justice - 2013 finds that "technological advances, particularly in the realm of communications technology, have vastly increased the amount of data potentially available to law enforcement agencies , . . ." The report observes that "significant public attention has been paid to programs authorizing the acquisition of national security information, but relatively less has been paid to the storing, handling, and use of that information. " The analysis concludes, "As the Department continues to acquire, store, and use national security information, these issues will arise more and more frequently, and the Department must ensure that civil rights and liberties are not transgressed." Earlier reports from the Inspector General found misuse of National Security Letter authority by the FBI.