Down With Citizen Database (TIA: Attempts for Data Mining Moratorium or Funding Suspension)

Wired.com ^ | 1/17/2003 | Ryan Singel

[dirtboy]

TIA as envisioned by Poindexter is toast. I just hope that in the rush to kill it off, they don't harm significant, legitimate efforts to improve the ability of the feds to analyze and mine their existing data stream, because they definitely need help in that department.

[dirtboy]

ping

[dirtboy]

Wyden's amendment requires the attorney general, the secretary of defense and the director of the CIA to submit to Congress a joint report on the program within a month. It also allows the president to override the amendment by submitting a letter to Congress certifying that the program is essential to national security.

This bill, quite frankly, is an attempt to politicize the matter. I think Feingold's moratorium is probably the best approach here, although I think his bill should not forestall research into techniques, just any implementations.

[agitator]

Let's keep our eyes on this like a hawk. Govt has an annoying habit of introducing something completely unacceptable, making sure its demise is well publicized, then re-introducing the same thing shortly thereafter and sneaking it through in the middle of the night attached to something unrelated. Think "Federal Reserve Act" ...

And by the way, where are the Republicans on this? Just think of what fun Hillary would have with this. Why am I relying on the lefties to kill this potential nightmare?

[dirtboy]

TIA ping

[dirtboy]

And by the way, where are the Republicans on this? Just think of what fun Hillary would have with this. Why am I relying on the lefties to kill this potential nightmare?

This process is in the early stages. I think Feingold is genuinely trying to do something productive and effective about TIA and governmental data mining in general (which is not automatically a bad thing), whereas the proposals by Daschle and Wyden are little more than an effort to politicize the matter. I figure it will take a month or two before there is any action regarding TIA, but IMO it will either be killed or severely curtailed.

[dirtboy]

ping

[Bluntpoint]

http://users.chartertn.net/tonytemplin/fbi_eyes/

[rmvh]

Total Information Awareness program.

....A great step forward to keep the barbarians at bay...Bases on info already widely available about each of us....allows technology to better focus on those who truly want to kill us as quickly and efficiently as possible.....

On the other hand, a totaly hated program by the devious, the bewildered, certain folks in the mid-east...as well as the basically uninformed who are hanging onto tired cliches and are essentially naive.

[dirtboy]

....A great step forward to keep the barbarians at bay...Bases on info already widely available about each of us....allows technology to better focus on those who truly want to kill us as quickly and efficiently as possible.....

And I suppose you'll claim it slices, dices, and makes Juilenne Fries as well. Direct-response firms, with very bright statisticians and data modelers using that already-available data you referred to, do cartwheels if they exceed a one-percent response rate for their mailings, but this database will identify potential terrorists who are aware of its existence and will take countermeasures to avoid detection. Please send me your name and address, DR firms love suckers who buy into every promise made to them...

On the other hand, a totaly hated program by the devious, the bewildered, certain folks in the mid-east...as well as the basically uninformed who are hanging onto tired cliches and are essentially naive.

I work with multi-terabyte marketing databases for a living. I think this program will never work as intended, and instead would probably be used as a lookup database against political opponents if it ever were to be implemented.

That's my expertise in the subject. What is YOUR expertise, jack? Ever work with that much data in such a setting?

[panaxanax]

And by the way, where are the Republicans on this?

I've been wondering the same thing. The Republican Party ain't what it used to be.

[dirtboy]

bump

[mrsmith]

The hysteria over TIA has been laughable.

It's a valid research project that can have good uses. Of course congress should maintain oversight of it.

The Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-Screening Program II More Checks on U.S. Travelers seems more dangerous IMHO.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

So, what's that interesting history? Here's one article, but it didn't load for me: http://www.business2.com/articles/mag/0,1640,8833,00.html

[lonewacko_dot_com]

Here's an attempt to apologize for TIA: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/137dvufs.asp

Perhaps the points made in the article could be countered here.

[freeeee]

On the other hand, a totaly hated program by...the basically uninformed who are hanging onto tired cliches and are essentially naive.

Privacy and the 4th Amendment are "tired clichés"??

A great step forward

"No, get it right! It's 'A Great Leap Forward', but I do appreciate your sentiment. Keep up the good work and don't let these Traitors To The Revolution get you down. Your pal, Mao."