TL;DR
Would you look at that, an acronym agency that can't handle critique. Where have we seen that before? Oh yeah, right here with OSAC members. I'm sure they'll talk about it on the Double Loop PodcastThe article discusses the FBI’s attempt to pressure the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) into censoring references to the FBI in workshops at its annual conference. The FBI, through senior policy adviser Ted Hunt, objected to a workshop titled "Taking on the FBI," which was set to examine how defense experts challenge forensic evidence, and another on forensic document examination that criticized the FBI’s handling of handwriting comparisons. The agency also opposed the participation of forensic DNA expert Tiffany Roy, who has been vocal in critiquing government forensic practices.
Despite the FBI’s claim that it did not seek to censor speakers, internal AAFS documents suggest that Hunt implied the FBI would boycott the conference if the workshops were not altered. The AAFS board ultimately voted to ask workshop organizers to remove references to the FBI or face cancellation. This decision led to concerns that the AAFS was prioritizing appeasement over its mission to improve forensic science and promote justice.
The article highlights broader issues in forensic science, including law enforcement's outsized control over forensic labs and resistance to scientific scrutiny. It references past reports, such as the 2009 National Academy of Sciences study and a 2016 report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, which criticized the lack of scientific rigor in forensic disciplines beyond DNA analysis.
The controversy underscores the FBI’s sensitivity to criticism and raises concerns about scientific independence in forensic practices. Some experts, including those involved in the workshops, view this as an effort to suppress dissent and maintain the status quo rather than addressing longstanding forensic science flaws.