The Chronicle continues its coverage of a trove of documents hacked from a multi­-agency intelligence center operated by the Austin Police Department. The hack, called BlueLeaks, contains documents meant to be kept secret, originating from the Austin Regional Intel­li­gence Center (ARIC) and other such “fusion centers” across the country that emerged after the 9/11 attacks. ARIC’s threat liaison officer program enlists law enforcement and private citizens as informants, and BlueLeaks includes more than a decade’s worth of details of the sometimes absurd, often paranoid, and questionably legal efforts of these semi-pro spies.

This article appears in August 21 • 2020.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US