GAO: FBI should improve terror watchlist outreach efforts to nonfederal users

When state and local law enforcement officers encounter people — e.g., in traffic stops — officers check their names against state database systems. The systems will return an alert if a name potentially matches one on the terrorist watchlist, which is managed by the FBI.

In half of the Government Accountability Office’s interviews with law enforcement agencies, officials said their officers may not always know how to properly respond to these alerts.

GAO recommended that the FBI develop a communications plan to tell law enforcement agencies about the policies around the terrorist watchlist, and a process to review states’ training on the policies.

Read more at Government Accountability Office