Biden DNI Nominee Pledges “Transparency” on Buying Americans’ Private Data

Avril Haines, former deputy national security adviser and former deputy director of the CIA, testifies before the House Committee on Foreign Relations on Jan. 14, 2020. Shutterstock

​The Fourth Amendment forbids warrantless surveillance of Americans. As we’ve reported before, government agencies are getting around this pesky constitutional requirement by simply purchasing Americans’ private information from data brokers.
 
In today’s nomination hearing for the Biden Administration’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) asked nominee Avril Haines if she would agree to inform the American people about this growing practice.
 
She said:
 
“I would seek to try to publicize essentially a framework that helps people understand the circumstances under which we do that, and the legal basis under that we do that under … so people have an understanding of the guidelines under which the intelligence community operates.”
 
“PPSA will keep a close eye on the DNI to see if this promised transparency is forthcoming,” said PPSA general counsel Gene Schaerr. “If it is not, expect to see more FOIA filings citing this pledge.”