02 December 2004

by Anai Rhoads Ford

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Veriana Media - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) confronted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Thursday, accusing the government agency of unnecessarily spying on political and faith-based organisations.

The ACLU filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in 10 states and the District of Columbia after receiving dozens of complaints by individuals who have been harassed or questioned by the FBI. The organisation asserts that there is evidence that the FBI and local state police, working under the Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs), are surveying on individual activists, anti-war, environmental, faith-based organisations, and political groups.

The FOIA requests seek to find whether or not the FBI spied on groups and individuals based on their opposing views or for their religion. In addition, the organisation wants to gather background information on the active policies of the JTTFs and how they may be misusing power in order to gain sensitive personal information.

Under the guise of terror protection, over 2,300 JTTFs personnel work with state, local and federal law enforcement officers.

JTTFs were created in 1980, and since 9/11 have doubled in number to 66. A team can currently be found in each of the FBI's 56 main field offices and ten in lesser offices.

Documents:

FBI Spy Files: FOIA regarding Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)

FBI Spy Files: FOIA on behalf of organisations

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