During the Cold War, as the United States government intensified its counterintelligence efforts because of threats from the Soviet Union, the CIA's convert MKUltra project sought to control human behavior through unethical experiments involving drugs and psychological manipulation. This project not only infringed upon individual rights but also highlighted the government's responsibility to protect citizens from harm, even when national security is at stake. The eventual exposure of MKUltra has since raised public awareness of the need for accountability in intelligence agencies and reinforced the importance of safeguarding civil rights against government overreach.