Software Being Developed to Monitor Opinions of U.S.

NY Times ^ | October 4 2006 | ERIC LIPTON

[jmc1969]

A consortium of major universities, using Homeland Security Department money, is developing software that would let the government monitor negative opinions of the United States or its leaders in newspapers and other publications overseas.

Researchers at institutions including Cornell, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Utah intend to test the system on hundreds of articles published in 2001 and 2002 on topics like President Bush’s use of the term “axis of evil,” the handling of detainees at Guantánamo Bay, the debate over global warming and the coup attempt against President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

A $2.4 million grant will finance the research over three years.

American officials have long relied on newspapers and other news sources to track events and opinions here and abroad, a goal that has included the routine translation of articles from many foreign publications and news services.

The new software would allow much more rapid and comprehensive monitoring of the global news media, as the Homeland Security Department and, perhaps, intelligence agencies look “to identify common patterns from numerous sources of information which might be indicative of potential threats to the nation,” a statement by the department said.

[jmc1969]

Wait until they find out the US press seems to be as negative about the United States as Saudi press.

[wouldntbprudent]

Well, fercryin'outloud.

[neodad]

identify common patterns from numerous sources of information which might be indicative of potential threats to the nation

DU alone will probably crash their servers.

[upchuck]

1984 is today?

[garyhope]

Wow!,....great idea. Let's all start worrying about what all the other piece of crap, oppressive, worthless, unsuccessful, nonproductive, failed fascists regimes of the rest of the world think of us!!! And then, if you're a "Democrat" can lose sleep over it.

Guess which part of my lower anatomy the rest of the world can kiss?

[soloNYer]

Or, they could save a few hundred by paying me a dollar every time I find a negative article from overseas press. Hell, I'd take the job if if was only negative US articles.

[TGOGary]

Gee, I thought I was slow at times. The fact that people are using commercial airlines to blow us all to hell should have been their first clue.

[bpjam]

Another liberal conspiracy at the NYT.

[MNJohnnie]

It is the Jason Blair NY Times. IT would be more credible to quote the National Enquirer

[hardworking]

Are probes going to be placed inside mosques?

[Cacique]

bump