The US public isn’t fully aware of the extent of law enforcement and government surveillance

For the first time, the federal government acknowledged its failures in the oversight of surveillance carried out by law enforcement agencies. Activists have pointed out the flaws in the system for years.

The Federal Judicial Center, the research branch of the US judiciary, conducted a study that found out that the federal court system’s Wiretap Report is full of inaccuracies.

The Wiretap Report, released annually, compiles information on the interception of communications by local and federal law enforcement.

Every year, all state and federal judges are required to report all the wiretaps orders they approved, Markup reported. Prosecutors are also required to report all the wiretap orders they request. The information is collected by the Administrative Office of the US Courts. The office uses the data to compile the Wiretap Report, which is sent to Congress for lawmakers to make informed decisions on law enforcement, data privacy, and surveillance issues.