COINTELPRO

COINTELPRO, or Counter Intelligence Program, was a series of secret FBI initiatives from the 1950s to the 1970s, aimed at infiltrating and disrupting domestic political organizations deemed subversive. Targeting groups like civil rights activists, feminist organizations, and leftist movements, the program employed surveillance, disinformation, and infiltrators to undermine these groups and diminish their influence. Although intended to protect national security, COINTELPRO often violated constitutional rights and ethical standards, leading to public outrage and significant reforms in intelligence practices. Today, it serves as a cautionary example of government overreach in domestic surveillance.