DHS Monitors Social Media For 'Political Dissent' 385
OverTheGeicoE writes "Recently, TSA's 'Blogger Bob' Burns posted a rant against a cupcake on the TSA blog. Perhaps it made you wonder if TSA and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, really understand what we're saying about them, especially online. Well, thanks to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit from the Electronic Privacy Information Center, we now know a lot more about how they monitor online comments aside from 'Blogger Bob.' EPIC has received hundreds of pages of documents regarding DHS's online surveillance program. These documents reveal that DHS has contracts with General Dynamics for '24/7 media and social network monitoring.' Perhaps it will warm your heart to know that DHS is particularly interested in tracking media stories that 'reflect adversely' on the U.S. government generally and DHS specifically. The documents include a report summary that might be representative of General Dynamics' work. The example includes summaries of comments on blogs and social networking sites, including quotes. Then again, you might remember J. Edgar Hoover's monitoring of antiwar activists during the Vietnam War, which certainly wasn't for the protesters' benefit."
And the quote at the bottom of the page (Score:5, Funny)
"Paranoia doesn't mean the whole world isn't out to get you."
I think Slashdot has become self aware.
Re:Hey DHS (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, in case I didn't get their attention: I'm an Islamic terrorist socialist nazi communist with bombs. Yeah, bombs. Also Obama. Did I mention bombs?
Hope their filters work well enough.
To Be Fair.. (Score:5, Funny)
DHS was going to monitor Islamic sites, but they couldn't figure out all the squigglies. Since the equipment was already bought, and the contract to their buddies were already handed out, they figured, fuck it, we'll us it to monitor Americans. At least we can understand the language.
Re:Mission accomplished (Score:4, Funny)
Wait - you mean HBGary, whose clock was cleaned by Anonymous? Why would I ask them anything? If they wrote a book, 'How to be a third rate charlatan', I might read it. I'd consider it to be a prerequisite to understanding 'How to be a first rate charlatan' - which would most likely be written by a politician.
Re:Mission accomplished (Score:0, Funny)
Oh shut up you gas bag. You're no better than the other blowhard, maybe worse.