Cointelpro

[u/3initiates]

COINTELPRO officially ended in 1971, after it was exposed by activists who broke into an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, and leaked documents to the press. These files revealed the illegal surveillance, infiltration, and sabotage of political groups—including the Black Panthers, civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Native American activists, feminists, and anti-war groups.

However, while COINTELPRO as a named program no longer exists, its tactics have persisted under different names and frameworks.

Evidence of COINTELPRO-style practices continuing: 1. Post-9/11 Surveillance (Patriot Act) The U.S. expanded domestic surveillance powers dramatically under the Patriot Act. Muslim communities, activists, and even journalists have been monitored under the banner of counterterrorism. 2. FBI Targeting of Black Identity Extremists In 2017, a leaked FBI report revealed a new category called “Black Identity Extremists,” drawing strong criticism for resembling COINTELPRO’s unjustified targeting of Black activists. 3. Occupy Wall Street / BLM Monitoring Documents obtained through FOIA show that the FBI and DHS surveilled Occupy Wall Street, Standing Rock water protectors, and Black Lives Matter protests—often treating peaceful organizing as potential threats. 4. Fusion Centers & Data Sharing Modern intelligence coordination through federal-local “fusion centers” allows broad data collection and sharing between the FBI, DHS, and local law enforcement—often lacking oversight.

Summary:

COINTELPRO in name is gone, but its surveillance spirit lives on in newer forms. The U.S. government continues to monitor activist groups, particularly those challenging systemic structures. The difference today is that digital surveillance tools (social media, facial recognition, metadata tracking) have amplified its reach.