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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHomeland Security Dept. Pays General Dynamics to Scour Internet for Criticism of its Policies
Homeland Security Dept. Pays General Dynamics to Scour Internet for Criticism of its Policies
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been paying a defense contractor $11.4 million to monitor social media websites and other Internet communications to find criticisms of the departments policies and actions.
A government watchdog organization, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), obtained hundreds of documents from DHS through the Freedom of Information Act and found details of the arrangement with General Dynamics. The company was contracted to monitor the Web for reports that reflect adversely on DHS, including sub-agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In testimony submitted to the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, Ginger McCall, director of EPICs Open Government Project, stated that the agency is monitoring constantly, under very broad search terms, and is not limiting that monitoring to events or activities related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or manmade disasters
.The DHS has no legal authority to engage in this monitoring.
McCall added: This has a profound effect on free speech online if you feel like a government law enforcement agencyparticularly the Department of Homeland Security, which is supposed to look for terroristsis monitoring your criticism, your dissent, of the government.
http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Homeland_Security_Dept_Pays_General_Dynamics_to_Scour_Internet_for_Criticism_of_its_Policies_120227
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)The 2001 version of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt can go suck eggs.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)saras
(6,670 posts)Can anyone, anywhere, name a damned thing they've done that's useful to anyone?
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Thats rather useful to them I suspect..
Kennah
(14,315 posts)Fuck you, and fuck the Department of Homeland Security. If you have trouble with the language, this is criticism.