CRS on Access to Government Information, and More
As frequently mentioned, the Congressional Research Service does not make its products directly available to the public. Some noteworthy new CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News and not readily accessible elsewhere include the following (all pdf).
“Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,” updated May 24, 2007.
“Access to Government Information in the United States,” updated April 23, 2007.
“Security Classified and Controlled Information: History, Status, and Emerging Management Issues,” March 8, 2007.
“Security Classification Policy and Procedure: E.O. 12958, as Amended,” updated April 23, 2007.
“Central Asia’s Security: Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests,” updated April 26, 2007.
“Detection of Explosives on Airline Passengers: Recommendation of the 9/11 Commission and Related Issues,” updated April 26, 2007.
“Treatment of ‘Battlefield Detainees’ in the War on Terrorism,” updated January 23, 2007.
“The International Space Station and the Space Shuttle,” updated April 26, 2007.
“Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education: Status and Issues,” updated April 23, 2007.
“Intelligence Issues for Congress,” updated May 16, 2007.
“National Science Foundation: Major Research Equipment and Facility Construction,” updated May 4, 2007.
“Crime and Forfeiture,” updated May 9, 2007.
“The War Powers Resolution: After Thirty-Three Years,” updated May 1, 2007.
The clearinghouse will also neutrally mediate the assignment of auditors to audits—strengthening independence, trust, and ethical governance across the AI ecosystem.
The potential implication of these evidence gaps becomes more consequential when you look at how institutions actually make decisions day to day.
Every new institution inherits something – existing incentives, existing staff, decades of prior investment that shaped what’s possible.
This is not the first time Google has agreed to censor imagery at the behest of governments, but be warned: obfuscation at this broad level poses a direct threat to the public’s ability to monitor and scrutinize government operations.