Background

Since 2000, the federal government has implemented or expanded various programs which have resulted in an unprecedented degree of information sharing between federal and state law enforcement agencies. Little information is given about how these cross-agency programs work in practice, and whatever information is given is not readily available to the public.

The purpose of this FOIA request was to seek information about the nature and extent of cooperation between the Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF); the National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF); and the Massachusetts Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC).

Given the checked history of internal security investigations in the United States, and the inherent threat to personal privacy posed by nationwide intelligence information sharing, domestic intelligence and security apparatus require the highest level of transparency and public oversight.