Terrorism watchlist: secret US rules revealed

Agencies don't need 'concrete facts' to label individuals terrorists – so how are people watchlisted?

The CIA seal
(Image credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

A secret US government rulebook, revealing details of how its internal terrorist watchlist is compiled, has been published in full by The Intercept, the investigative website set up by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.

The 116 page document was written by the National Counterterrorism Center in March 2013 and includes input from the Pentagon, CIA, NSA, FBI and other national agencies. It authorises "a secret process that requires neither 'concrete facts' nor 'irrefutable evidence' to designate an American or foreigner as a terrorist", says the website.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More