FBI releases plans to monitor social networks

[Mr. G]

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has quietly released details of plans to continuously monitor the global output of Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, offering a rare glimpse into an activity that the FBI and other government agencies are reluctant to discuss publicly. The plans show that the bureau believes it can use information pulled from social media sites to better respond to crises, and maybe even to foresee them.

The information comes from a document released on 19 January looking for companies who might want to build a monitoring system for the FBI. It spells out what the bureau wants from such a system and invites potential contractors to reply by 10 February.

Read More Here...

[gregkavarnos]

Yeah, like they're not already doing it!

[Mr. G]

Yeah, like they're not already doing it!

Yeah, but now they're letting us know they're doing it!

[PadmaVonSamba]

Here are two ways to keep people from gathering private information about you on Facebook, twitter, and other social network sites:
1. Don't post private information
2. See #1
.
.
.

[David N. Snyder]

Here are two ways to keep people from gathering private information about you on Facebook, twitter, and other social network sites:
1. Don't post private information
2. See #1
.
.
.

[Indrajala]

You can already monitor what's going on with Twitter and Google quite easily using publicly available means.

[ghost01]

You can already monitor what's going on with Twitter and Google quite easily using publicly available means.

There's a big difference between being able to search through public information on people, and building massive relational databases of people and their activities, interests, social networks and behavior. Asking intelligence employes to befriend regular citizens and monitor their activity is way out of line...

Data mining is becoming very Orwellian, especially when done by intelligence agencies. Most people do not understand that any information they put online is fair game, nor do they realize how much money is invested in collecting that data for analysis and statistics research.

I am a programmer and am myself guilty of doing it. There really needs to be more public awareness and responsibility in all directions...

[zerwe]

You can already monitor what's going on with Twitter and Google quite easily using publicly available means.

There's a big difference between being able to search through public information on people, and building massive relational databases of people and their activities, interests, social networks and behavior. Asking intelligence employes to befriend regular citizens and monitor their activity is way out of line...

Data mining is becoming very Orwellian, especially when done by intelligence agencies. Most people do not understand that any information they put online is fair game, nor do they realize how much money is invested in collecting that data for analysis and statistics research.

I am a programmer and am myself guilty of doing it. There really needs to be more public awareness and responsibility in all directions...

Yep, A childhood classmate/friend of mine explained to me what his company did (this was 10+ years ago) and I flipped. Anyway, they collected data on all electronic transactions, this data was organized into various
statistical formats (at this point considered a valuable commodity), and then sold to "marketers" and credit card companies. And, If I remember correctly, he said that a handful of companies owned or contracted the rights to
harvest/access this information. Pretty sick stuff if you ask me and I'm sure it is easily expandable into other sources of info., etc... I asked him if he realized that he was liege with satan.
Shaun

[zerwe]

You can already monitor what's going on with Twitter and Google quite easily using publicly available means.

There's a big difference between being able to search through public information on people, and building massive relational databases of people and their activities, interests, social networks and behavior. Asking intelligence employes to befriend regular citizens and monitor their activity is way out of line...

Data mining is becoming very Orwellian, especially when done by intelligence agencies. Most people do not understand that any information they put online is fair game, nor do they realize how much money is invested in collecting that data for analysis and statistics research.

I am a programmer and am myself guilty of doing it. There really needs to be more public awareness and responsibility in all directions...

Yep, A childhood classmate/friend of mine explained to me what his company did (this was 10+ years ago) and I flipped. Anyway, they collected data on all electronic transactions, this data was organized into various
statistical formats (at this point considered a valuable commodity), and then sold to "marketers" and credit card companies. And, If I remember correctly, he said that a handful of companies owned or contracted the rights to
harvest/access this information. Pretty sick stuff if you ask me and I'm sure it is easily expandable into other sources of info., etc... I asked him if he realized that he was liege with satan.
Shaun

BTW, as I just posted this Google (bot) and three guests are browsing this forum.

[Adumbra]

If I understand the report correctly the Feds want software that will create and maintain fictional personae on the social networks. While it sounds interesting I really don't see the purpose behind it. Are they going to use them to entrap and bust people? As for the information gathering and collating aspect: how can the Feds know the information they collect is accurate? Anyone can create fake personae on facebook and feed them disinformation with it. The Spy vs Spy comic perfectly illustrates the utter futility of the spy game.

The Feds are not going to be more informed, but less informed. Now that the public knows that they're communications on Facebook, Twitter, et all are being monitored they aren't likely to be 100% transparent. Congratulations FBI, you've just made your own job more difficult. My only regret is that my tax money is going to fund this errant project.

[Mr. G]

I am a programmer and am myself guilty of doing it. There really needs to be more public awareness and responsibility in all directions...

I'm in the IT field too. With all this crazy legislation floating around (SOPA, PIPA, ACTA), it's scary.