1975 to 2000

Investigations and deregulation

The Church Committee, the secret surveillance court, Iran-Contra and its pardons, Waco, and the repeal of Glass-Steagall.

Key facts

The Church Committee found 500,000 FBI files on Americans. Congress was asked for a law against assassination and did not pass one.
In 1978 Congress created a secret court for surveillance warrants. It hears only the government.
Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999. In 2000 swaps were exempted from regulation.

5 events in Surveillance & Privacy, oldest first

1976April 21, 1976Surveillance & Privacy
United States v. Miller: your bank records are the bank's
The ruling behind 48.7 million reports a year.
Source: United States v. Miller, 425 U.S. 435 Read the full story →
April 26, 1976Surveillance & Privacy
Church Committee: 500,000 FBI files, 26,000 on a round up list
Too many people have been spied upon by too many government agencies.
Source: Intelligence Activities and the Rights of Americans, Book II, Final Report of the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities Read the full story →
19781978Surveillance & Privacy
Congress creates a secret court for surveillance warrants
Eleven judges, one party, closed proceedings.
Source: About the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Read the full story →
19921992Surveillance & Privacy
DEA begins bulk collection of calls from the US to foreign countries
As many as 116 countries; ended 2013; never given a full legal review.
Source: DEA Never Checked If Its Massive Surveillance Operations Are Legal, Watchdog Says Read the full story →
19941994Surveillance & Privacy
Congress orders the carriers to build wiretap capability into their networks
The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act.
Source: Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)Read the full story →