US Capitol attack: is the government’s expanded online surveillance effective?

The Brennan Center for Justice explains how the US government monitors social media - and how counter-terrorism' efforts can threaten civil rights and privacy

In the year since the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, federal authorities have faced intense scrutiny for failing to detect warning signs on social media.

After the 6 January insurrection, the US agency tasked with combatting terrorism and extremism, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has expanded its monitoring of online activity, with officials touting a new domestic terrorism intelligence branch focused on tracking online threats and sharing information about possible attacks.