This is interesting: Occupy protesters suspect they're under surveillance—not for crimes they've committed, but for rights they've exercised.

“Not only are the police disrupting people’s rights to free expression,” Mr. Pawar said. “They are taking pre-emptive steps by arresting people who might be just thinking about exercising their rights.”

Though Occupy Wall Street has largely faded from the headlines, organizers are planning springtime demonstrations in an effort to revitalize their movement. And they are troubled by what they consider continued monitoring by the police.

In 2003, citing the dangers of terrorism, a federal judge granted expanded surveillance powers to the New York police, who had previously faced restrictions in monitoring political groups. Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and others have said the new latitude is essential to keeping the city safe.

But the Police Department’s surveillance efforts have recently gained attention and criticism with reports that officers compiled detailed data on Muslim communities. Now, some Occupy protesters worry that they are being subjected to similar scrutiny.

For the last few months, protest organizers say, police officers or detectives have been posted outside buildings where private meetings were taking place, have visited the homes of organizers and have questioned protesters arrested on minor charges.

Funny (and probably, one hopes, unrelated) story: I met a source a few days ago to discuss FBI and SPD joint participation in some bogus "eco-terrorism" investigations that seemed to have more to do with targeting people for their political opinions than for actual crimes. Within minutes of our meeting in a public place (arranged over email and text), a balding, middle-aged white guy with a scowl and an expensive-looking camera showed up, snapped a few photos of the place where we were sitting, and strode back onto the sidewalk. He didn't behave like most photographers I know, who typically scout around a place, set up shots, etc. He just walked in, scowled, took a few snaps, and split.

I followed him out of the place, but he had vanished. I wonder where those photos are now.