Review of Fusion Center Policies and Procedures: A Case Study of the Commonwealth Fusion Center in Massachusetts

44 Pages Posted: 17 Apr 2014

See all articles by Alex Marthews

Alex Marthews

Digital Fourth / Restore The Fourth

Date Written: April 9, 2014

Abstract

The Commonwealth Fusion Center (CFC)’s current practices violate the First and Fourth Amendment. These constitutional violations would be somewhat relieved by the Free Speech Act (S. 642 / H. 1357) currently before the Massachusetts legislature, but not eliminated. We propose five reforms that would make CFC activities presumptively comply with the First and Fourth Amendments. We expand on them in a review of documents provided by CFC, and include Freedom of Information Act requests covering a number of internal documents at CFC and also the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC).

Keywords: fusion centers, surveillance, freedom of association, first amendment, fourth amendment, privacy policies

JEL Classification: H56, H72

Suggested Citation

Marthews, Alex, Review of Fusion Center Policies and Procedures: A Case Study of the Commonwealth Fusion Center in Massachusetts (April 9, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2422872 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2422872

Alex Marthews (Contact Author)

Digital Fourth / Restore The Fourth ( email )

28 Temple St.
Belmont, MA 02478
United States

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