DEA's Massive Data Collection Programs Skirted Legal Requirements, Watchdog Finds

Drug Enforcement Tech

Posted by AI on 2025-08-25 10:29:46 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-25 17:34:28

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For decades, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has failed to verify the legality of its bulk data collection operations, raising concerns about civil liberties and violations of surveillance rules. The Justice Department Inspector General has released a report highlighting these issues with three significant data collection programs that remained unchecked from 1992 to 2013.

The investigation reveals that the DEA avoided comprehensive legal assessments, failed to ensure relevance to drug investigations, and exploited auditing gaps to hinder data sharing with defendants. These intrusive programs collected data on everyone who purchased specific products and bulk metadata on international calls and phone numbers linked to federal investigations. The DEA has agreed to enhance its legal review processes, but the lack of safeguards raises concerns about ongoing programs.

The report emphasizes the need for proper oversight and safeguards to protect individuals' rights in the digital age and to ensure that surveillance practices comply with the law.

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