National Security and Counterterrorism
The Open Society Foundations seek to investigate and combat human rights violations linked to national security and counterterrorism operations around the world, and to promote policies that respect human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
Standing Up to Big Brother
Q&A: A Big Step for Global Privacy Rights
By ruling against a government intelligence agency, one of the most powerful courts in Germany has struck a blow for data privacy and free expression.
Justice Delayed
An Overdue Reckoning with U.S. Torture
A new Hollywood film about the “torture report” offers a disturbing but necessary reminder to U.S. voters that justice still has not been done.
Voices
No State Accountability for North Carolina Contractor Who Helped CIA Torture
While far too much of the CIA’s activities during the presidency of George W. Bush remains hidden from the public, a new report helps to fill the gap by taking a closer look at North Carolina’s involvement.
Event Recap
The History of American Islamophobia, from the 19th Century to the Trump Era
Khaled A. Beydoun’s new book charts Islamophobia in the United States and the ways anti-Muslim rhetoric is rooted in the country’s legal system.
Voices
For Diplomacy That Looks Like the United States, Civil Society Must Lead by Example
To improve its foreign policy and national security decision-making, the United States needs a State Department and a national security workforce that reflects the diversity of its citizens.
Voices
John McCain’s Profile in Courage
The late U.S. senator left a complicated legacy. But throughout his career, McCain never wavered in his opposition to torture, or his support for human rights abroad. History will remember and honor these heroic stances.
Voices
Q&A: Yemen’s Humanitarian Catastrophe Demands Action
Yemen’s civil war, fueled by outsider powers with little concern for the Yemeni people, is not getting better. It is in the global community’s power to stop these atrocities—and justice demands nothing less.
Voices
The Unresolved Legacy of CIA Torture
In the years since the so-called torture report’s release, U.S. views on the practice have turned increasingly partisan. To revive the bipartisan consensus against torture, advocates must remain active, focused, and vigilant.