Leaked DOJ Memo Suggests Treating Some Citizen Recordings as “Domestic Terrorism”

A leaked internal memo from the U.S. Department of Justice is generating intense discussion after reportedly instructing federal prosecutors to treat cases in which individuals publish identifying information about law enforcement officers as potential “domestic terrorism.”

The guidance, which has not been officially released, was allegedly shared by an anonymous public employee in legal discussion forums, and quickly circulated among prosecutors and legal experts across the United States.

According to the document, prosecutors should evaluate cases where a person publishes or shares personal data that identifies a law enforcement agent, including name, address, or images captured while the officer is on duty, and consider such actions as serious threats comparable to domestic terrorism.

Traditionally, recording or sharing images of law enforcement operations in public has been permitted and often recognized as part of civic oversight. Experts warn that redefining this practice could reshape the relationship between citizens and authorities.

“Classifying this behavior as domestic terrorism is a new and unprecedented move, it has the potential to significantly affect civil liberties and how people interact with law enforcement,” said immigration attorney Leopoldo Faiad.

The leak emerges at a time when the federal government itself has been criticized for recording and publicly releasing videos of immigration enforcement operations, including on official Department of Homeland Security accounts, which has further fueled the debate.

The Department of Justice has not officially commented on the leaked guidance. However, the memo continues to raise questions about the limits of free expression, public transparency, and the expanding definition of national security threats in the United States.