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![Link to: US Executive branch surveillance powers must be curbed](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
US Executive branch surveillance powers must be curbed
Human Rights Watch is concerned not only about the disproportionate and unconstitutional nature of Section 702 surveillance, but also about the possibility that the government is using questionable legal interpretations to avoid notifying criminal defendants that Section 702 produced information for the investigations in their cases.
![Protesters stand on heavy machinery after halting work on the Dakota Access oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, 6 September 2016, REUTERS/Andrew Cullen](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-standing-rock-protest-september-reuters-cropped.jpg)
Coalition calls for charges to be dropped against Standing Rock journalists
The Morton County State’s Attorney’s Office is being urged to drop the charges against journalists arrested during protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline or justify the arrests of reporters in the course of their work.
![Protesters hold signs during a show of solidarity with the press in front of The New York Times building, 26 February 2017, in New York, AP Photo/Kathy Willens](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-ny-times-rally-ap.jpg)
Did Trump just ban NYT, CNN and BBC from White House briefings?
Yes, the White House did ban nine news outlets from last week’s “gaggle”. But that’s not the most worrisome part.
![Link to: FBI discontinues email service for access to information requests](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
FBI discontinues email service for access to information requests
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned to learn that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced that it will no longer accept requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by email as of March 1, 2017. This change in policy could prove to be a new obstacle to government transparency and access to information for one of the most important agencies within the United States government.
![Demonstrators converge outside Terminal 5 of O'Hare International Airport, 29 January 2017, in Chicago, AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_chicago_airport_protest_ap.jpg)
Border agents search BBC journalist’s devices
Ali Hamedani, a reporter for BBC World Service, was detained and questioned for over two hours at a US airport.
![Link to: U.S. ideological test for immigrants evokes dark chapter](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
U.S. ideological test for immigrants evokes dark chapter
Never mind the tired, the poor and the huddled masses. New Trump executive order may not even allow immigrants who are critical of American policies.
![Members of the news media inspect the broken glass of a limousine during a demonstration after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, AP Photo/John Minchillo](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-washington-protest-ap.jpg)
Journalists charged with rioting in Washington
The reporters were among more than 230 people arrested in Washington on Inauguration Day after individuals set fire to a car and broke windows of downtown businesses.
![Members of the news media inspect the broken glass of a limousine during a demonstration after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, AP Photo/John Minchillo](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-washington-protest-ap.jpg)
Journalists charged with rioting in Washington
The reporters were among more than 230 people arrested in Washington on Inauguration Day after individuals set fire to a car and broke windows of downtown businesses.
![Delegates protesting against the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement hold up signs during the first sesssion at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 2016, REUTERS/Carlos Barria](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-tpp-democrats-reuters.jpg)
The not so transparent reasons for Trump’s TPP withdrawal
Yes, he withdrew from the TPP. But his reasons for doing so may mean future trade deals will be just as problematic.
![Delegates protesting against the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement hold up signs during the first sesssion at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 2016, REUTERS/Carlos Barria](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-tpp-democrats-reuters.jpg)
The not so transparent reasons for Trump’s TPP withdrawal
Yes, he withdrew from the TPP. But his reasons for doing so may mean future trade deals will be just as problematic.
![President Donald Trump speaks at the Central Intelligence Agency on 21 January 2017, AP Photo/Andrew Harnik](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-trump-cia-pr-ap.jpg)
For Trump, media is public enemy number one
Reminding Trump’s administration that the press does not provide public relations for the President, despite statements to the contrary from the White House Press Secretary.
![President Donald Trump speaks at the Central Intelligence Agency on 21 January 2017, AP Photo/Andrew Harnik](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-trump-cia-pr-ap.jpg)
For Trump, media is public enemy number one
Reminding Trump’s administration that the press does not provide public relations for the President, despite statements to the contrary from the White House Press Secretary.
![People call for the release of whistleblower Chelsea Manning in San Francisco, California in June 2015, REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage/File Photo](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_chelsea_manning_protest_reuters.jpg)
Chelsea Manning to be released 28 years early
In his last week in office, President Obama commuted the 35-year sentence of military whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who will be released in 2017.
![Images of President Barack Obama and Edward Snowden are held by a pro-democractic legislator during a news conference in Hong Kong in 2013, AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-obama-snowden-ap.jpg)
USA: Snowden and Manning wait to see if Obama will show leniency
Chelsea Manning, sentenced to 35 years for leaking US diplomatic cables to Wikileaks, is reportedly on President Barack Obama’s shortlist for potential commutation of sentence. This welcome possibility highlights the urgency of Obama pardoning Edward Snowden.
![Images of President Barack Obama and Edward Snowden are held by a pro-democractic legislator during a news conference in Hong Kong in 2013, AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-obama-snowden-ap.jpg)
USA: Snowden and Manning wait to see if Obama will show leniency
Chelsea Manning, sentenced to 35 years for leaking US diplomatic cables to Wikileaks, is reportedly on President Barack Obama’s shortlist for potential commutation of sentence. This welcome possibility highlights the urgency of Obama pardoning Edward Snowden.
![EFF](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa-obama-surveillance-eff.png)
Obama expands surveillance powers on his way out
With mere days left before Donald Trump takes the White House, Obama’s administration finalized rules to make it easier for intelligence agencies to share unfiltered information about innocent people.