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Government

Which Keywords on Twitter Get the Government’s Attention?

Dec. 28, 2011 11:21am Liz Klimas

Earlier this month, we reported that an archive of tweets could be held indefinitely by the Library of Congress if they have any “long-term historical interest.” But what about active monitoring of social media by the government? If you think the government is tracking your online movements, keywords in your tweets could be just what turns its eye onto you.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its plans to monitor social media sites in the interest of public safety in February 2011. Now, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), according to Courthouse News, says DHS could track words like “human to animal,” “collapse,” “infection,” ”outbreak” and “illegal immigrants” using fake accounts.

Fox News reports that EPIC has filed a lawsuit against DHS after a Freedom of Information Act request for documents of communications between DHS and its contractor over the proposed initiative went unanswered. The original request for data was filed in April and EPIC announced it would be suing DHS last week for information.

Fox has more:

The lawsuit filed [Dec. 20] expressed concern that information DHS gathers could be stored for up to five years and shared, noting that Internet users “routinely” post personal information in online communications and “have no reason to believe that the Department of Homeland Security is tracking their every post.”

The document request was initially prompted in part by reports that a private company had floated proposals for tapping into social media and sabotaging certain activists. According to EPIC’s original request, the company reportedly had set up a training session with DHS in 2010.

EPIC in April asked DHS for information about any contact with the company, but also records on “all contracts, proposals and communications” between DHS and other governments or private companies, as well as documents on training and software pertaining to the social media monitoring program.

The media monitoring initiative is still in development, and in November, the DHS released a privacy compliance review of its Publicly Available Social Media Monitoring and Situational Awareness Initiative Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) Update and new DHS/OPS-004 – Publicly Available Social Media Monitoring and Situational Awareness Initiative System of Records Notice (SORN), which were issued on January 6, 2011, and February 1, 2011, respectively.

According to the review of the initiative, the Office of Operations Coordination and Planning (OPS), including the National Operations Center (NOC), would have the authority to collect “personally identifiable information” and hold said information for up to five years. It will “monitor publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites, and message boards to collect information used in providing situational awareness and a common operating picture.” The OPS/NOC was found complaint in its plans to share its media monitoring reports with federal employees, contractors and international partners who “need-to-know.” The review states that the privacy risk of sharing the information is minimal because the information gleaned was made available on public sites.

The Homeland Security Newswire reported DHS undersecretary Caryn Wagner as saying that the department is still continuing to create guidelines for how to use social media in its security efforts, especially in light of how Facebook and Twitter were used in recent events like Arab Spring:

We’re still trying to figure out how you use things like Twitter as a source,” she said. “How do you establish trends and how do you then capture that in an intelligence product?”

To that end, Wagner said DHS is in the midst of creating guidelines to gather information from these sites for law enforcement purposes. She was careful to note that the agency is mindful of strict privacy laws that prohibit the government from spying on U.S. citizens and DHS was working to develop rules to protect privacy like establishing the length of time the information can be stored and differences between domestic and international surveillance.

DHS proposed revisions to its “Department of Homeland Security/ALL—017 General Legal Records System of Records” on Nov. 23 with public comment ending on Dec. 23. To this, EPIC responded with several comments against the revisions (Download the PDF here.):

EPIC opposes many of the proposed system of records provisions and the lack of meaningful opportunity for DHS to review public comments. The system of records notice (“SORN”) greatly expands permissible “routine use” disclosures of personal information in DHS’ possession. Additionally, because the system of records applies literally to every person — “members of the public” — the expansion of “routine use” would significantly undermine privacy safeguards set out in the Privacy Act and would unnecessarily increase privacy risks for individuals whose records are maintained by the federal government. Pursuant to the SORN listed in the Federal Register, EPIC submits these comments to address the substantial privacy risks that the agency’s proposals raise.

EPIC says that DHS’ legal authority to routinely monitor sites like Facebook and Twitter remains unclear. NextGov reports that in February’s announcement DHS stated that it would not actively seek out friendships under false identities with users on sites and notes that it, in sharing information with other parties, would strike out a name or other information that could identify the person, expect in a life or death situation.

[H/T Gawker]

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Comments (96)

skiz
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:15pm
I would like to collapse human to animal infection and outbreak by allowing illegal immigrants to join facebook and twitter using fake accounts. Come and get me girls!

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- scheduler
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:47pm
  Fox is probably top on their list.
  
  http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
  
  Report this comment
- Dinkiecb
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:55pm
  Come get ME pick MEEEEEEEEEEEE
  
  Report this comment
- jb.kibs
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:19pm
  lol, hell yeah.
  
  Report this comment
- 1776freedomofspeech
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:20pm
  Funny Skiz!
  
  Report this comment
- 4truth2all
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:34pm
  I was thinking…that the infectious outbreak of illegal immigrants posing as human to animals using fake accounts will collapse America …
  
  Report this comment
- Susan Harkins
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:47pm
  Yea DHS, I got your “human to animal” number.
  
  Big Sis just wants to know if we have discovered her sexual fetish yet, so she can send them to Gitmo and retrain them to have a fond appreciation of Sis’ art of “human to animal”.
  
  Aint that right, Sis?
  
  Report this comment
- Av8r1969
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 6:38pm
  nice!
  
  Report this comment
- tharpdevenport
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:44pm
  Let’s start a trend and try to encourage EVERYBODY that uses Twitter to post those words at once. I nfact, I’ll up the ante:
  
  Illegal aliens own weapons of mass destrotion. They are human being. They only want to collapse President Obama’s system. There is an outbreak os second amendments rights. Muslim’s using anthrax as infection.
  
  There, I’ve added some more key words.
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:39pm
  Obama’s a dork!! Oh OH. Now I’ve went and done it. I’m in big doo doo now!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- liberum1776
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:56pm
  Reverse the words and really mess with them: infection noitcefni. Gee, i wonder if a terrorist would ever think of using words that appear common but really have alternative meanings? Lot of good this will do, only use is to locate mostly harmless people venting so they know who to arrest when the time comes.
  
  Report this comment
- McNamara
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:28pm
  Lmao!
  
  Report this comment
- McNamara
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:29pm
  Outstanding!
  
  Report this comment
- smugg
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 6:23pm
  you have made my day
  
  Report this comment
joan k
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:06pm
I have a friend who usually signs all his email and online posts with keywords that would trigger the powers to be to spend their time reading his posts. He will often post a disclaimer AFTER the keywords saying that these are words that will target you by the government and that you shouldn’t put them in your posts!

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plastinoid
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:54pm
“Human to animal,“ ”collapse,“ ”infection,“ ”outbreak,”, and “illegal immigrants.” Here I am you bunch of corrupt B A S T A R D S!

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- HorseCrazy
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 2:07pm
  exactly bomb disease infection illegal immigration obama nigeria africa iran republican etc. key words. I still have no idea why on earth “animal to human” or whatever is on there. can someone please explain this to me?
  
  Report this comment
plastinoid
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:52pm
“Human to animal,“ ”collapse,“ ”infection,“ ”outbreak,”, and “illegal immigrants.” Here I am you bunch of corrupt Bastards!

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- hojo
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:56pm
  My words exactly
  
  Report this comment
- Variable
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 1:16am
  More like here the blaze is…. I wonder if the blaze would hand over your info if they were asked with a national security letter.
  
  Report this comment
- Wolf
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:41am
  @Variable: do you really think DHS and other alphabet agencies don’t know more about you than you do? Your ‘right to privacy’ has been null and void for forty years or more so don’t worry about who’s giving your ‘information’ to the fed.
  
  Report this comment
Phoneguy
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:28pm
How much more Big Brother are we willing to put up with.

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- fastgen1
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:17pm
  If your a lib, “Big Brother” is a good thing……
  
  Report this comment
- BrianM
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:58pm
  Now, now PhoneGuy…you’re a sexist pig!! It’s not ‘Big Brother’, it’s ‘Big Sister’! Remember, it’s a Janet Reno wannabe that heads the DHS. (grin)…Happy Removal of BHO Year!…Brian.
  
  Report this comment
- momsense
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 10:23am
  Just what I was thinking.
  
  Report this comment
- Gorp
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 10:15pm
  Come on now. Don’t you know about political correctness? It’s not “Big Brother” or “Big Sister”. It’s “Horizontally Challenged Person”.
  
  Report this comment
BeingThere
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:22pm
How about “Homeland Security and TSA are un-constitutional criminal organizations?”

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- Dinkiecb
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:56pm
  Well go shut em down .. tell em I said it was ok with me if ya did and that you have MY permission to do so.
  
  Report this comment
bhelmet
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:55pm
I do not think these stories surprise most people anymore – I am FINALLY seeing more people wake up and realize something is not right. Our govt is far from our friend and as things get uglier and darker it will become more and more obvious. I really feel sorry for those dependent upon the govt for their livelihoods.

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schroeder123
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:51pm
Lets all start using key words…Like bomb, terrorist, revolution,

That will blow their minds .

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- LostDog54
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:23pm
  “Obama gon buy me a house!” I love that man! Obama Obama Obama
  
  Report this comment
- BeingThere
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:24pm
  Great idea, put them in every email!! Bomb, terrorist, revolution! Human to animal and back again. Oh wait, maybe you can’t go back! LOL
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:46pm
  LOSTDOG54:
  Yeah!!! That’s really going to fool them. Nice try!!! lol
  
  Report this comment
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:49pm
Bottom line: ALINSKY RADICALS! The founders warned us about them 200 years ago….

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schroeder123
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:48pm
History is repeating it’s self.
Take our freedom away while claiming , it’s for your own good.
The Government is here to save you. and it will do it with force if has to.

Soooo Be Happy… Don’t worry mon…. everything gonna be OK….

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progressiveslayer
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:46pm
Our founding father’s are rolling in their graves at what the republic has become,and any politician that voted for the unpatriotic act or ndaa are traitors and should be thrown out of office.Was that too subversive for you statists? Of course the stasi are alive and well and have been monitoring us for years,it’s just easier now with the internet.

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RightThinking1
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:45pm
Well gee, since I do not “Tweet”, have no Face Book account, I really don’t care. The fact is, those who are engaging the ‘social media’ are by definition placing themselves in the public eye and should have no more expectation of privacy than we do here, or when one writes a letter to the editor of a paper. If you have a privacy problem, take it up with Twitter, Facebook, or your ISP.

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Gonzo
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:09pm
I’m surpised that anyone still had the mistaken notion that Facebook or Twitter were private.

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FreeUsAll
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:06pm
Has anyone read the book called “We” by Yevgeny Zamyatin? Or perhaps more of you have read 1984 by George Orwell? They both would accurately describe what is happening here in the United States. To the U.S. Government: For too long you have stolen our right to privacy and our freedoms. It is time to cut you down to size. That’s right, Big Brother, we’re watching you, too.

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- FreeUsAll
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:13pm
  Check this article out. Yes, it’s by Ron Paul, but it still applies to everyone in the U.S. Whether you like Ron Paul or not is irrelevant.
  
  http://lewrockwell.com/paul/paul790.html
  
  Report this comment
kickagrandma
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:00pm
I’d count on words like: traitors (any name connected with traitors-in-office in Washington which pretty much takes in everyone up there)
CHRISTIANS
JEWS
Tea Party/Tea Partiers
912 groups
Conservative
Conspiracy
guns/ammo
FREEDOM

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- Delta D-5-3
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:03pm
  Guess that means were all on someones list now. Yep, love living in a FREE country!!
  
  Report this comment
- SecularConservative
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:09pm
  ^ LOL you’re joking, right?
  
  Report this comment
- Jenny Lind
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:22pm
  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind we are on somebody’s radar just for comenting on the Blaze.
  
  Report this comment
hunter1riley
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:00pm
Public safety my @$$. More like control. The government is losing control of the herd. They (gov’t) will become more desperate socially and economically.

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COFemale
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:54am
I really can’t believe some people go from human to animals in a heartbeat and the moral collapse of our society is such an infection that an outbreak like this has lead to illegal immigration.

If I suddenly disappear fellow Blazer’s you know what has happened.

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:11pm
  I suspect that goes for each and everyone of us except for the trolls….
  
  Report this comment
- 13th Imam
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:13pm
  I agree Co, When they finally come to get me, Hold on a minute, “Who’s ther
  
  Report this comment
lukerw
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:53am
Ah, yes… the Secret Police… maybe listening… so be careful of what you say…

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- GeneTracy
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:08pm
  Big Brother could soon be tweaking our tweets.
  
  Report this comment
- Baddoggy
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:45pm
  I agree big. F’em. If they want me they can try to come get me. I am ready for a fight if they do anything against my Constitutional rights. I am law abiding. But I hate Obama and his administration. When that becomes illegal, I am then a maverick lawbreaker, glad to be on the government s@@t list.
  
  Report this comment
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:51am
To Homeland security pay attention to these key words:

Obama and administration – “Crooks” “Liars” “Usurpers and Revolutionaries” “Traitors each and every one” “Murderers in unsupported wars” “Allied to radical terrorists”

And last of all dedicated to the farce of a Traitor in the White House…

“A ripping noise of flatulance induced by the consumption of a fish and bean burrito…Salute!”

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- V-MAN MACE
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:56am
  Never use Twitter, Facebook, Google, or other government controlled and created tracking software.
  
  Report this comment
- SecularConservative
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:11pm
  Is facebook the mark of the beast? lol Actually, cell phones should worry you more because that gives them both your words AND location.
  
  Report this comment
LibsFIB
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:51am
There has been an “outbreak” of “illegal aliens” ! This social “infection” will cause the “collapse” of the economy due to their unending neediness. The treatment of the U.S. Govt of its taxpaying citizens transforms us from “human to animal”. LibsFIB! RON PAUL 2012!!!!

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Mandors
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:49am
Try saying some of those words in a cellphone conversation and see what happens. “Bomb,” “blow up” and “shoot”; those are good too.

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philoise65
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:41am
“Human to animal,” “collapse,” “infection,” “outbreak,”, and “illegal immigrants.” Here I am Big Sis.

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13th Imam
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:31am
You mean like Nadal Hassan’s Anti-American language?? Where he openly threatened non-Muz Americans??

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dealer@678
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:27am
Illegal immigrants using fake accounts. Say it aint so

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- chips1
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:54pm
  Es no correcto. How’s that?
  
  Report this comment
Conservative Bleeder
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:27am
What if there was a human to animal infection outbreak that collapses all of the illegal immigrants?

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- FreeUsAll
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:57am
  @Conservative Bleeder.
  
  Lol. I love the response!
  
  Report this comment

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