Drones

CIA doesn’t have to disclose info on drone killings, appeals court rules

A federal appeals court has rejected a freedom of information lawsuit brought about by the American Civil Liberties Union, ruling that the government doesn’t have to disclose the victims of CIA “targeted killings” by drones.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit last week upheld a lower court’s 2013 dismissal of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The request, made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), was filed in an attempt to obtain records on the use of military drones, such as intended targets, locations, and how many people died from the strikes.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) argued that the requested documents are exempt from FOIA disclosure because of their sensitive nature, an argument which the lower court had accepted in their summary judgment.

After reviewing a classified affidavit by the agency, the appeals ruled in favor of the CIA and upheld the lower court’s judgment. The court also agreed with the agency and said that there are no "segregable portions" of the documents which could be disclosed.