The Metadata Trap: The Trump Administration Is Using the Full Power of the US Surveillance State Against Whistleblowers

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Government whistleblowers increasingly being charged under laws such as the Espionage Act, but they aren’t spies. While we all live under extensive surveillance, for government employees and contractors — especially those with a security clearance — privacy is virtually nonexistent. When a government worker becomes a whistleblower, the FBI gets access to reams of data describing exactly what happened on government computers and who searched for what in government databases, which helps narrow down the list of suspects.  Government insiders charged under the Espionage Act are not allowed to defend themselves by arguing that their decision was in the public interest.


The Metadata Trap: The Trump Administration Is Using the Full Power of the US Surveillance State Against Whistleblowers