What was the Central Intelligence Agency’s detention and interrogation program after the September 11 attacks?

Following the September 11 attacks, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) implemented a detention and interrogation program targeting suspected terrorists, particularly those affiliated with al-Qaeda.1

The program involved several controversial practices:

• Black Sites: The agency established a network of secret detention facilities outside U.S. territory, known as "black sites," where detainees were held indefinitely.12
• Enhanced Interrogation: Detainees were subjected to "enhanced interrogation techniques" intended to extract information. These methods, which many experts and international bodies classify as torture, included waterboarding, sleep deprivation, shackling in stress positions, and slamming detainees against walls.12
• Extraordinary Rendition: The CIA engaged in the abduction and transfer of suspects to foreign countries that routinely practiced torture, a process known as extraordinary rendition.12

These practices faced significant criticism for being illegal under international law and counterproductive, as they often produced unreliable information and damaged the international standing of the United States. The "black sites" were officially closed in 2009 by executive order.231