FBI's Secret Checks Raise Questions

A recent government report, not intended for public consumption, reveals that the FBI conducted over 1,000 secret checks on religious groups, journalists, officials, and politicians without any evidence of criminal activity. The report, created in January 2026, was scheduled for destruction.

FBI's Surveillance Methods

The FBI employs these checks to investigate individuals without obtaining a warrant. They can monitor people, use confidential informants, and access electronic records. The report indicates that over 100 religious groups, numerous media outlets, and more than 500 officials were subjected to these checks.

Questionable Practices

The FBI claims that most checks originate from tips. However, the report uncovered instances where checks were conducted without proper authorization. Additionally, agents occasionally employed inappropriate methods.

Statistics and Concerns

Between 2018 and 2024, the FBI opened and closed approximately 127,000 checks. Only 14% of these checks escalated into full investigations, suggesting that most checks yielded no useful information.

For special checks, the FBI conducted around 1,100, but fewer than half resulted in investigations. Experts caution that these checks enable the FBI to amass excessive personal data without sufficient justification.

Criticism and Lack of Transparency

Critics argue that the FBI's system is a waste of time and resources, opening too many checks without genuine evidence of crime. The FBI declined to comment on the report, and the government office responsible for the report stated it would not release it to the public.