American Surveillance

Since 9/11, the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection have built mass surveillance programs, keeping secret files on ordinary travelers and rating Americans on their potential security threat. Few if any terrorists have been caught. But Americans' constitutional rights have been abused both by overreaching local officers and government agencies. As these surveillance and informant campaigns expand to train stations, sports arenas and other daily venues, traditional American freedoms are threatened. Weaving exclusive interviews with former TSA and DHS officials, privacy advocates, ordinary citizens and lawyers who've challenged the government, this film documents the battle to preserve American rights and values against the expanding American surveillance state. Most surprising is how often former officials and privacy advocates agree.