National Security Information Controls in the United States: Implications for International Academic Science and Technology

Abstract

During the past decade, the U.S. government expanded its definition of national security interests and consequently felt a need to control the flow of scientific information in ways that may imperil its availability, shape its content, and limit its communication. Censorship of publications by government employees, restriction of unclassified scientific papers, curtailment of data collection and dissemination by federal agencies, and surveillance of computer network and library users are some of the controls that were introduced during this period. Recently, there have been indications that the trend is reversing and that less restrictive policies are in the process of being adopted. But much remains to be done before the system of information controls is sufficiently scaled back.