- Oct 7, 2011
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It's not just 'Crazy Paranoia.' They are watching, and some of their employees do likely frequent this very Board. Thank God for a group like the 'Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)'.
An electronic privacy group has convinced lawmakers to hold hearings next week to look into the Department of Homeland Security's practice of monitoring social media and other news and information Web sites like the Drudge Report. The hearings are the result of findings by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), which obtained nearly 300 pages of documents as a result of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit detailing DHS' "information gathering" practices online.
In particular, the documents show that the department instructed private contractors to monitor the Web for media reports and other information that "reflect adversely" on DHS and the federal government. "The Department of Homeland Security’s monitoring of political dissent has no legal basis and is contrary to core First Amendment principles," EPIC director Ginger McCall said, according to a report at Infowars.com, a watchdog site.
"The language in the documents makes it quite clear that they are looking for media reports that are critical of the agency and the U.S. government more broadly," she added. "This is entirely outside of the bounds of the agency’s statutory duties." A Reuters report in January noted that DHS was monitoring social media Web sites including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks. The report also said DHS was monitoring "news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report."
According to government documents, the purpose of the monitoring was to "collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture." An unnamed DHS official quoted by Reuters said the program was benign, and that it was only intended to keep abreast of major, developing events to which the department and its various agencies would have to respond.
EPIC's McCall dismissed that explanation.
"They are completely out of bounds here," she said, according to Infowars.com. "The idea that the government is constantly peering over your shoulder and listening to what you are saying creates a very chilling effect to legitimate dissent."
The House Committee on Homeland Security's subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence has scheduled a hearing Feb. 16 to discuss the DHS monitoring.
NewsRoomAmerica.com - Group Forces Hearing on Homeland Security Web Monitoring
DRUDGE REPORT 2012®
An electronic privacy group has convinced lawmakers to hold hearings next week to look into the Department of Homeland Security's practice of monitoring social media and other news and information Web sites like the Drudge Report. The hearings are the result of findings by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), which obtained nearly 300 pages of documents as a result of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit detailing DHS' "information gathering" practices online.
In particular, the documents show that the department instructed private contractors to monitor the Web for media reports and other information that "reflect adversely" on DHS and the federal government. "The Department of Homeland Security’s monitoring of political dissent has no legal basis and is contrary to core First Amendment principles," EPIC director Ginger McCall said, according to a report at Infowars.com, a watchdog site.
"The language in the documents makes it quite clear that they are looking for media reports that are critical of the agency and the U.S. government more broadly," she added. "This is entirely outside of the bounds of the agency’s statutory duties." A Reuters report in January noted that DHS was monitoring social media Web sites including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks. The report also said DHS was monitoring "news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report."
According to government documents, the purpose of the monitoring was to "collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture." An unnamed DHS official quoted by Reuters said the program was benign, and that it was only intended to keep abreast of major, developing events to which the department and its various agencies would have to respond.
EPIC's McCall dismissed that explanation.
"They are completely out of bounds here," she said, according to Infowars.com. "The idea that the government is constantly peering over your shoulder and listening to what you are saying creates a very chilling effect to legitimate dissent."
The House Committee on Homeland Security's subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence has scheduled a hearing Feb. 16 to discuss the DHS monitoring.
NewsRoomAmerica.com - Group Forces Hearing on Homeland Security Web Monitoring
DRUDGE REPORT 2012®
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Expect a visit from Obama's Henchmen any day now.
