US criticised by UN for human rights failings on NSA, guns and drones

Geneva panel share deep concerns over US record on host of different subjects, including racial inequality and Guantánamo

Zuckerberg calls Obama over NSA

Facebook supremo Mark Zuckerberg has called president Barack Obama to express his frustration over what he says is long-lasting damage caused by the US government's surveillance programmes.

NSA denies Facebook snooping as Zuckerberg lays into Obama

Facebook's CEO says he called President Obama to express his 'frustration' at repeated revelations of NSA snooping

That NSA denial in full: As of right now, we're not pretending to be Facebook or Twitter

...how US spy hive the NSA today branded claims that it "has infected millions of computers around the world with malware," and that it "is impersonating US social media or other websites" to eavesdrop on people.

GCHQ helped NSA generate automated hacks

Human oversight is being made redundant by an automated hacking system called TURBINE setup by the NSA -- with help from GCHQ -- which uses fake Facebook servers to infect users' systems. Former Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald has released detailed information on the network, which had already come to light last year, and the workings behind it on his site The Intercept.

A Close Look at the NSA’s Most Powerful Internet Attack Tool

NSA bulk spying may see termination of EU-US agreements – MEP resolution

The EU threatens the abolition of its trade agreement with the US, and other deals, if blanket surveillance by the NSA on EU citizens doesn’t stop. MEPs announced a resolution that wraps up a six-month inquiry into America’s violation of data privacy.

Your comments: How much have drone protesters' trials cost taxpayers

Prosecuting the drone protesters in the town of DeWitt has cost taxpayers $42,786 so far, and more trials are expected to take place in the near future.

DeWitt officials said the upcoming trials of the activists charged in connection with drone protests at Hancock Air Base could double that cost, The recent trial of protesters resulted in 12 people being sent to jail. DeWitt Town Justice David Gideon found them guilty of disorderly conduct in connection with the October 2012 protest. They were given a 15-day sentence.

Debate: Should The President Be Able To Order Citizens Killed Abroad?

The US Drone War and Human Rights

Dirty Wars is an unsettling look at covert wars waged by the U.S.; catch a free screening, Thursday night at McGill University

Should This Drone Have Flown Over East Harlem Firefighters?

Firefighters were still unloading debris from the scene of Wednesday's explosion in East Harlem that killed seven people and injured dozens when a three-pound DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter drone began buzzing above the wreckage.

The White House Is Firmly on the Side of the CIA in Its War with the Senate

It seems that President Obama has chosen sides in the fight between the CIA and the Senate Intelligence Committee over a report describing the agency's torture program under President George W. Bush. The executive branch is standing with the CIA, standing behind its director, and even reportedly withholding documents from the Senate investigation.

The Outrageous and Criminal Cover-Up By Obama and the CIA

Imagine you commit a heinous crime. Then imagine that, once facing charges in court, you’re allowed to withhold incriminating evidence brought forth by the prosecutors, keeping the jury in the dark about the details of your lawbreaking. Further, imagine you commit more crimes while on trial and imagine the judge enables and covers up these additional offenses.

White House refuses to hand over top-secret documents to Senate committee

The White House is refusing to hand over top-secret documents to a Senate investigation into CIA torture and rendition of terrorism suspects, claiming it needs to ensure that “executive branch confidentiality” is respected.

In the latest development in the spiralling clash between Congress and the administration over oversight of the intelligence agencies, Barack Obama’s spokesman Jay Carney confirmed that certain material from the George W Bush presidency was being withheld for fear of weakening Oval Office privacy.

Chances for prosecution unclear in CIA-Senate spat

A fight between the Senate and the CIA over whether crimes were committed in the handling of sensitive classified material appears unlikely to be resolved in the courts, legal experts say.

Our view: Cloaks, daggers and the CIA

Congress needs to get to the bottom of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's astonishing allegations of a CIA attempt to intimidate congressional staffers investigating the spy agency's past actions.

Feinstein, a Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, can have no partisan motive in roiling these waters. And she has been a firm supporter of the agency, even defending the CIA's controversial use of armed drones to kill terrorists overseas.

American Proxy Wars in Africa

Senate approves CIA counsel amid snooping fight

The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the nomination of Caroline Krass to serve as the CIA's top lawyer amid a snooping fight pitting the spy agency against Congress and ensnaring the CIA's acting general counsel.

Senate confirms Caroline Krass as CIA general counsel

Ego trumps principle: Sen. Feinstein Finally Goes after the CIA, but not for Lying to and Spying on US

Feinstein, after all, as head of the Senate Intelligence Committee since 2009, has yet to see an NSA violation of the Constitution, an invasive spying program or a creative "re-interpretation" of the law that she hasn't applauded as being lawful and "needed" to "keep people safe."