Statement of the National Coalition Against Censorship's The Knowledge Project: Science & Censorship
regarding the Army's "Actionable Medical Information" review policy
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The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) believes that the public has a right to know non-
classified, scientific information generated by government researchers. The Army’s AMI policy for
conducting pre-publication review of medical data puts at risk this right. Unfortunately, we know very little
about the application of the Army’s review policy. A FOIA request revealed nothing about the information
removed by reviewers, the rationale for censoring that information, and determinations on appeal. We do
know, however, that the Army requires public affairs reviewers to vet all materials under the policy to ensure
propriety. To the extent that the Army’s public affairs review censors truthful scientific data that otherwise
would be appropriate for publication, this policy undermines the public’s right to know.
NCAC’s The Knowledge Project: Censorship & Science will continue in its attempts to analyze the legal
basis and practical impact of this and other military policies that censor scientific research. We would like
to know more, for example, about the data actually suppressed and the reasons for that suppression, and
the extent to which authors disclose that their articles have been reviewed under the AMI review policy.
Katherine A. Rabb, Esq.
Director, The Knowledge Project: Censorship & Science
National Coalition Against Censorship
212-807-6222 x14