Clark Worked For Ark. Data Firm:Acxiom Role Part of Surveillance Debate(More Trouble For the Weasel)

The Washington Post ^ | September 27, 2003 | Robert O'Harrow Jr.

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Clark Worked For Ark. Data Firm
Acxiom Role Part of Surveillance Debate

By Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 27, 2003; Page A08

Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark helped an Arkansas information company win a contract to assist development of an airline passenger screening system, one of the largest surveillance programs ever devised by the government.

Starting just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Clark sought out dozens of government and industry officials on behalf of Acxiom Corp., a data powerhouse that maintains names, addresses and a wide array of personal details about nearly every adult in the United States and their households, according to interviews and documents.

Clark, a Democrat who declared himself a presidential candidate 10 days ago, joined Acxiom's board of directors in December 2001. He earned $300,000 from Acxiom last year and was set to receive $150,000, plus potential commissions, this year, according to financial disclosure records. He owns several thousand shares of Acxiom stock worth more than $67,000.

Clark's consulting role at Acxiom puts him near the center of a national debate over expanded government authority to use personal data and surveillance technology to fight the war on terrorism and protect homeland security.

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