7 FAM 170
REPORTING ON AMERICAN COMMUNITY GROUPS ABROAD
(CT:CON-804; 04-30-2018)
(Office of Origin: CA/OCS)
7 FAM 171 SUMMARY
(CT:CON-101; 02-10-2005)
The Privacy Act prohibits reporting or record keeping by
the Department of an individuals exercise of his/her Constitutional freedoms.
However, the same prohibitions do not apply to organized groups of U.S.
citizens/nationals overseas if their activities may adversely affect the
welfare of U.S. citizens/nationals, impact on foreign relations, or violate
U.S. or foreign laws.
7 FAM 172 SITUATIONS REQUIRING
REPORTING
(CT:CON-101; 02-10-2005)
Examples of activities of U.S. citizen/national
communities abroad requiring reporting to the Department include, but are not
limited to:
(1) Reporting on exhortations of suicide by cult or
group leaders;
(2) Child abuse or exploitation within a cult or group
that condones such activity;
(3) Suspected criminal activity or advocacy of
criminal activity by any cult or group member;
(4) Knowledge from public or private sources of
activities that may have a significant impact on foreign relations; and
(5) Violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Consular officers should inform the Department about the
nature and activities of such groups by cable, using CASC, KOCI and other
appropriate tags.
7 FAM 173 THINGS TO AVOID
(CT:CON-101; 02-10-2005)
You should avoid:
(1) Identifying or naming specific individuals, unless
it is necessary to understand the activity or assess its importance; and
(2) Speculating about the persons motives or state of
mind, unless it is necessary for the Department to assess the individuals
credibility and the importance of the information, in which case, the consular
officers opinion should appear in a separate paragraph labeled as comment.
7 FAM 174 through 179 UNASSIGNED