Posted on 12/06/2001 11:06:24 AM PST by rdavis84
Acxiom Had Data on 11 of 19 Hijackers in 9/11 Attack
A leader at Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock said Wednesday that Acxiom databases contained information on 11 or the 19 hijackers involved in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Jerry Jones, legal and business development leader at Acxiom, revealed the information in a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's conference, “Immigration Policy after September 11: Enhancing Security and Facilitating Commerce.”
Jones told conventioneers that information is the most powerful weapon in America's fight against terrorism, but its potential is not yet being used.
“Technology used every day by the finance and business industries can be applied to enhance airline safety,” Jones said. “When you apply for an insurance policy today, your application and identity are subjected to a computerized background check or risk assessment. But if you purchase a ticket to fly across the United States, no such data verification of your identity occurs.”
Jones said airport security is too focused on finding weapons instead of terrorists. He said that just as the manufacturing industry played a role in the U.S. victory in World War II, the information technology industry can help against terrorism.
“I urge those of you within the government to aggressively reach out to the private sector for help," Jones said.
In September, Acxiom said it was developing an information verification system, using its AbiliTec systems, to help airlines quickly validate passengers’ personal information. Jones said the same tools and processes that allow Acxiom clients to recognize their customers can be used to connect or integrate government databases.
“Acxiom had information on 11 of the 19 publicly identified hijackers,” Jones said. “Had a system been in place on Sept. 11 that integrated commercial data with that from the FBI, Immigration and Naturalization, Customs and other agencies, several of the airplanes certainly would have had extra security directed at them.”
Some older ties -- (thanks to Grabbe) ---
The original White House office record-keeping system had been set in motion with a $20 million contract made with Planning Research Corp. in 1992, the last year of the Bush administration. The contract was for five years, ending in 1997. Notably, however, the Clinton White House apparently concealed the WHODB procurement-related activities from the GAO when GAO probed Executive Office of the President procurement in 1993.
Planning Research Corp. had previously produced the TEC II system for Customs. The TEC II system was derived from PROMIS, according to an affidavit given to Inslaw, Inc.
Planning Research Corp. kept the WHODB general maintenance contract for itself, and farmed out the rest of the work to three companies: Pulsar Data Systems, Subsystems Tech Inc., and Integrated Data Systems. Integrated Data did the schematics for setting up WHODB for its intended purposes, while Pulsar Data Systems supplied the actual software.
WHODB was set up to also provide access to other data bases, such as those of the Secret Service and FinCEN. WHODB can log onto the FBI computer, but the FBI system contains a block preventing any direct White House access to its files. To get an FBI file, the White House must submit a "request" in the front end of the FBI system. A designated FBI employee then looks at the request, and uploads the appropriate file directly into WHODB. (No White House request for FBI files has been denied.) No paper records are normally involved in this transfer. If a White House Craig Livingstone-type wants a hard copy of someone's FBI file, he hits the print button and produces one on a White House laser printer.
What was the true role of Pulsar Data Systems in creating WHODB? This question arises because it is common gossip and common knowledge that Jackson Stephens provided Bill Clinton with the Big Brother system. Moreover, the software provided by Pulsar Data Systems contained a "back door" often found in software provided by Jackson Stephens' software firm Systematics. This back door is present in many systems based on PROMIS (including, for example, software used in Goldman Sachs' London office). It is evident that Systematics (now Alltel Information Services) in some sense provided the basic program which Pulsar Data Systems may have modified. Systematics has been a major supplier of banking software, and the recipient of numerous NSA contracts. Systematics was represented at the Rose Law Firm by Vince Foster, Webb Hubbell, and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Then, just for Grins, take a look back at an Uncle Bill thread ---- OutSourcing Big Brother
Once we prune away all the chaff, the message is clear:
"...'In the 21st Century, information - the ability to assemble it, integrate it and understand it - will be one of the most important drivers of the global economy and its security,' Clark said. 'I look forward to this great opportunity to support Acxiom in building an information infrastructure required by our nation and our world'..."
"...When Oracle started up nearly 25 years ago, it built databases for the CIA. Database management software allows businesses, Web sites and government agencies to store and manage vast amounts of information..."
"...Information is the most powerful weapon in America's fight against terrorism, but its potential is not yet being unleashed, according to Jerry Jones, legal and business development leader at Acxiom Corporation..."
"...Acxiom Corporation, a global leader in Customer Data Integration (CDI) and customer recognition infrastructure, enables businesses to develop and deepen customer relationships by creating a single, accurate view of their customers across the enterprise..."
Combine Ellison's national ID card fetish, Acxiom's CDI and face-recognition software currently being deployed and you have a system that can (and will) track anyone's (and everyone's) movements anywhere in the world.
"Just another brick in the wall."
Do I win a kewpie doll, HAL?
dan
"Twenty-four hours a day, Acxiom electronically gathers and sorts information about 196 million Americans. Credit card transactions and magazine subscriptions. Telephone numbers and real estate records. Car registrations and fishing licenses. Consumer surveys and demographic details.
What Acxiom does is perfectly legal – bringing together an array of facts from scattered sources. But the phenomenon known as "data warehousing" or "datamining" represents yet another example of how traditional notions of personal privacy have become obsolete, outstripped by technology's ability to peer into personal lives.
In a flash, data warehouses can assemble electronic dossiers that give marketers, insurers and in some cases law enforcement a stunningly clear look into your needs, lifestyle and spending habits. And without aggressive action to preempt the companies, individuals have no control over facts that are gathered and disseminated about them."
"Eight of the 66 -- including DoubleClick chairman Kevin O'Connor -- gave qualified "yes" responses, which typically asked that Catlett not break the law in gathering information. Acxiom said releasing the information would violate privacy, even with consent of the target.
"Aside from the obvious potential to embarrass the targeted survey individuals by making a public disclosure of certain nonpublic information, I would suggest that your discussion at the FTC Workshop focus on the types of information you gather rather than the individual details of your collection efforts," Acxiom chief privacy officer Jennifer Barrett wrote Catlett."
There is a simple, yet elegant solution that will allow anyone to defeat dataminers.
Always pay in cash. Leave no footprints for them to follow.
dan
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