Korean Job Discussion Forums

[igotthisguitar]

US Govt "Collects Data" On Americans Overseas:
Washington Post
Sat Sep 22, 2:25 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US government is compiling electronic files on the travel habits of millions of Americans who take trips overseas, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Citing documents obtained by a civil liberties group and statements by unnamed government officials, the newspaper said the retained data included travel companions, persons with whom Americans plan to stay abroad, the personal items they carry during their journeys, and even the books that travelers have carried.

The personal travel records are intended to be stored for as long as 15 years as part of the Department of Homeland Security's effort to "assess the security threat" posed by all travelers entering the country, the report said.

Officials say the records, which are analyzed by the department's Automated "Targeting" System, help border officials distinguish "potential" "terrorists" from "innocent" people entering the country, The Post said.

But new details about the information being retained suggest that the government is monitoring the personal habits of travelers more closely than it has previously acknowledged, the report said.

The Automated Targeting System has been used to screen passengers since the mid-1990s, but the collection of data for it has been greatly expanded and automated since 2002, according to the paper.

Officials defended the retention of highly personal data on travelers not involved in or linked to any violations of the law, the report said.

But civil liberties advocates have alleged that the type of information preserved by the department raises alarms about the government's ability to intrude into the lives of ordinary people, The Post pointed out.

The millions of travelers whose records are kept by the government are generally unaware of what their records say, and the government has not created an effective mechanism for reviewing the data and correcting any errors, activists said, the paper said.

The activists alleged that the data collection effort, as carried out now, violates the Privacy Act, which bars the gathering of data related to Americans' exercise of their First Amendment rights, such as their choice of reading material or persons with whom to associate, according to the report.

[GaryCooper]

I fear that igotthisguitar has been hoodwinked.

The story he quotes does not name which "civil liberties group" has made these claims, nor does it state any officials that allege the foregoing, nor even any particular officials to deny this.

Civil liberties advocates are angry about it? Well, quote them. Who are we talking about? Why on this story are they so reluctant to give their own names? They are certainly forthcoming on every other report I've seen.

Who are the officials defending the procedure? If they're full of it, this would be the perfect opportunity to expose these mouthpieces for snooping on us. Of course, the story would not even say who they are.

Added to this is the implausibility of the story even if the OP had any on-the-record sources. Am I to believe that when I travel to and from Korea, there are cameras somewhere near customs to record my reading habits, who I'm traveling with, the personal items I carry, and so forth? Come on. For customs and immigration to get their collective act together on drugs, contraband, terrorism suspects, and all that is a daunting enough task on its own. I doubt that they'd rub salt into Homeland Security's wounds by finding out who is reading "The Da Vinci Code" on that nonstop flight to Heathrow.

And is this mysterious eye upon us all even possible? With no description of what the "Automated Targeting System" is -- a machine? a procedure? -- it's difficult even to imagine how such a profiling-on-steroids system would even be carried out. If this mysterious device or procedure or whatever it is has existed since the 1990's, I would expect a good journalist to describe what it is or does, how it works, etc. This story certainly does not do that.

I suggest that igotthisguitar find a more reputable source willing to name names and go into the details I would expect a good story from the news wires. A good story has to have some proper names, and this story has none. It would seem as if either a news wire has lost its ability to report, or perhaps igotthisguitar summarized the credibility out of a good story, or perhaps this is some weird Internet hoax. In any case, I wouldn't hold much credence in the story igothisguitar quoted. It's simply conspiracy fodder for people juiced on thinking the worst of a post 9/11 US government.

[igotthisguitar]

Gary ...

WASHINGTON POST

[GaryCooper]

Why would you even trust that story? It has enormous holes, nobody's willing to go on the record, and the scenario of it is highly implausible. I showed that, and to support everything I said, you offered not a single rebuttal. I gave argument, and you simply provided insult.

If you believe the story, answer my objections and tell us why you trust it. As I have shown, you have no reason to. Please double-check the rumors you wish were true before parading them to Dave and everybody as unquestionable fact.

And learn the difference between "your" and "you're" for the next post will make. A little care with the mechanics may strengthen your credibility.

[igotthisguitar]

WASHINGTON POST is a credible mainstream "news" source.

2+2=5, eh Gary?

btw - my comments weren't intended to be "offensive" ... or what have you.

Why so defensive? Hmmmm ...

[GaryCooper]

I refer the left dishonourable gentleman to the replies I have given before. It's clear you don't care to rationally defend yourself, perhaps because your case is indefensible. May I suggest reading and answering points, rather than backing up rumor with more rumor? It's useless to talk with you and with people like you.

[igotthisguitar]

[JMO]

Igotthisguitar has a thing. He posts some random conspiracy theory in a post laden with bolded letters and emoticons and little else.

If you point out any inconcistencies in his post of which there will be many, he will respond with something like this.

[igotthisguitar]