Individual versus Societal Rights

William Session, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, discussed how the FBI protects civil rights even when using “sensitive techniques.” By this term, he refers to the use of informants, court-authorized electronic surveillance, and undercover operations. While he admits that there is always the possibility of such practices being called into question as invasions of individual rights, Director Session stated that such a possibility is remote. This is because such techniques are not used until after other “traditional” means have failed and because such techniques are strictly controlled by guidelines designed to protect individual rights, such as privacy and lawyer-client confidentiality. close