Print

The Review Group

Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies Conducts Meetings with Privacy and Civil Liberties Experts and Information Technology Industry Experts

Press Release

September 9, 2013

Today, members of the Review Group on Intelligence and CommunicationsTechnologies met with more than a dozen privacy and civil liberties groups and experts to hear comments about how the review group should carry out its tasks.  Participants discussed recommendations about how to respect the Intelligence Community’s commitment to privacy and civil liberties and maintain the public trust.

In a separate meeting, the review group today met with information technology companies and experts.  Participants discussed the foreign policy implications, including economic implications, of U.S. policy concerning intelligence and communications technology.

The meetings today are part of the Review Group’s overall efforts to receive comments from the public on all matters that the President has asked it to examine.  Comments can be provided via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The deadline for public submissions is October 4, 2013.  Further information on public comments is available via IC on the Record.


On August 12, 2013 President Obama directed the establishment of the review group. While it is administratively housed at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), it is conducting an independent review and will report directly to the President.

The review group’s task is to advise the President “on how, in light of advancements in technology, the United States can employ its technical collection capabilities in a way that optimally protects our national security and advances our foreign policy while respecting our commitment to privacy and civil liberties, recognizing our need to maintain the public trust, and reducing the risk of unauthorized disclosure.”