Leaks - Updates

Kyl Amendment Represents New Official Secrets Act

Feb. 28, 2007 -- Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has floated an amendment to S. 236, a bill dealing with federal data mining efforts, that would in effect create an “Official Secrets Act” criminalizing the publication of classified information. There have been no public hearings or discussions about this proposal.

The media understand that leaks of some government information about the war on terror can cause harm. But existing laws are adequate to protect the information that truly needs protecting. The Kyl amendment is so broad that it would make criminal the unauthorized disclosure of virtually any government information relating to terrorism. The amendment would also fundamentally alter the espionage statutes of the United States - a statutory regime that has served us well for over 80 years. Read the SGI Statement.