U.S. to keep information on citizens under suspicion for longer period

Published 23 March 2012

The United States has adopted guidelines allowing counterterrorism agencies to increase the period of time they retain information about U.S. residents, even if these citizens have no known connection to terrorism. The guidelines allow the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to keep information for up to five years. Previously, the NCTC was required promptly to erase, typically within 180 days, any information about U.S. citizens or residents unless a connection to terrorism was evident.

Source: U.S. to keep information on citizens under suspicion for longer period