ABSTRACT
The legality of United States (US) government intelligence activities was commented on extensively in the 1970s, by both the media and the various investigative bodies that conducted inquiries into the general subject. The provision limiting Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) role in internal security matters became the basis for charges that CIA was denied any functions in the US The 1947 Act makes no specific reference to collection of intelligence by CIA. Covert action is one area that led to a challenge of CIA's legal right to engage in any action programs. Counterintelligence activities have produced a number of controversial incidents. Some clearly involved violation of the law. Others, though legal, became the subject of debate because they involved US citizens as objects of government surveillance. Counterintelligence agents must try to identify involved Americans, thus leading to what the media sometimes has referred to as "spying on Americans".
