Since September 11th, 2001, the United States government has been monitoring its citizens' phone calls, license plates, internet search histories, purchases, and movements in unprecedented and, in some cases, invasive ways. The government claims that this secret surveillance is necessary and keeps us safe. But Truthout.org and the American Civil Liberties Union have done some investigating and they say that if we really want to be safe, we need more privacy.

Produced by Lucy Hall with help from Sarah Lu.

For more information about Yana Kunichoff, Kade Crockford, and the Surveillance in the Homeland Project, check out their website: http://www.surveillanceinthehomeland.org/

To hear more Truthout authors on Vocalo, click here.

Thanks to Sari Geltzer at Truthout.

Music by YACHT.