Spooky Business: The Threat to Democracy

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Nov 15, 2013, 12:28 ET

New Report Shows Corporate Espionage Against Nonprofit Groups is Increasing

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Findings of a new study by Essential Information – a Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing citizen involvement in their communities – documenting the recent spread of corporate espionage against nonprofit public interest groups will be released at a National Press Club Newsmaker news conference on Wednesday, November 20.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO)

Representatives of groups targeted by such spying tactics will join Gary Ruskin, author of the report Spooky Business: Corporate Espionage Against Nonprofit Organizations to discuss the implications for civic participation and free speech.

Although recent revelations about government surveillance has drawn attention to the issue, the spread of corporate espionage against citizen organizations has received comparatively limited attention from Congress and mainstream media, even though it often poses a direct threat to citizens' constitutional rights and the public's ability to hold corporations accountable.

Spooky Business documents:

An increase in the incidence of known spying operations against nonprofits, most involving a wide variety of sophisticated tactics.
The abuse of government resources, facilitated by a "revolving door" between government and corporate intelligence personnel.
The globalization of corporate surveillance by U.S. multinationals.
How businesses that undertake such activities run the risk of incurring significant reputational damage.

This National Press Club Newsmakers news conference is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 in the club's Zenger Room on the 13^th Floor of the National Press Building, 529 14^th St., NW, Washington DC 20045.

Contact: Herb Perone, NPC Newsmaker Chair and Event Host
301-512-7636, [email protected]

SOURCE National Press Club