If Senate Democrats had accepted due process, we would have gun control

[HereSince1628]

22. Black lists create fear, awe, and doubt. All likely desired features

It all seems a part of the vortex of distrust that traps security states.

Convincing people the state has a broad and effective net of surveillance, without actually revealing much about the surveillance net seems useful. It makes citizenry think the state is protective, and the doubt generated by the secrecy arguably helps the security service. It helps intimidate 'enemies' into choosing inaction and isolation while enabling clandestine operations against them.

I suspect if pressed to give one, an argument could be made that details of an investigation leading to placement on a no-fly list must remain secret as releasing them would reveal what the state knows and at least some of the how it knows it. Making such known to potential enemies is counterproductive.

For the security services being on a black list -is- the limited available public evidence someone is a person of interest. Persons of interest need not ask for what they should not know.