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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)

Fubar Frog
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:53am
Sorry, that should say want to destroy, not what to….Not strong in grammar or spelling either.

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Fubar Frog
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:50am
Sorry, that should be want, not what….Not strong in spelling or grammar either!!!

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Fubar Frog
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:46am
@CEMERIUS
What can I say lyrics have never been my strong suit. Maybe I should stick to sarcasm, we all seem to experts in that department. One thing is for sure is; we need to take our country back from those that what to destroy it. IMHO neither party has our best interest in mind……Just sayin’

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slvrserfr
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:35am
So when the Senate passed a bill to legalize sodomy in the military and I tweeted human to animal, they may have actually reviewed that. Interesting. I would think that big sister would have more important keywords to review like oh I don’t know…how about terrorist or assassination.

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momsense
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 10:28am
Big Brother at his best ——to H@ll with the first amendment!

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nothinghere
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:52am
are these some of the same people that went into a rage when bush wanted to tap into calls coming from known or expected terrororist hot spots into the usa (for national security purposes only)? now this administration wants to tap into any conversation (for political purposes) i fail to see a.c.l.u. mentioned, they never seem to have an unbiased opion in a socialist administration.

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cemerius
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:30am
Illegal alien muslims are having human to animal contact until they collapse they then infect their 47 wives with syphillus until there is a major outbreak of VD…..

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dcart888
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:15am
Knock Knock Knock: Oh, is that Big Sis at my front door now?

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thrushjz
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 3:56am
I was in Beijing in 2009 playing in a band. At the hotel I would use certain words like Communism, Church, Tianenmen square, House church. My internet in the hotel would suddenly shut down for awhile.There was no Youtube, Facebook, Twitter in China. We are heading there very quickly.

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- cemerius
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:32am
  There is a breaking point and the knowledge that 30-50 million Americans are personal gun owners of multiple types makes me feel that the United States will weather this terrible storm created by the FLEAs! Freeloading Liberals Encouraging Anarchy
  
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Fubar Frog
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 12:06am
Sung to the tune of Daisey, Daisey:

Barry, Barry please won’t you go away
You and Moochellie,
Have really ruined the day!
You haven’t led the nation,
‘Cause you’re always on vacation.
But you’d look sweet,
In the impeachment seat,
Oh congress please don’t delay!!!

C’mon all you gun totin’, Bible thumpin’, insect infested animals,…..Sing along!
Barry, Barry….
Think I’m on the list now… don’t you?

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- cemerius
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:35am
  Yawn….nice try Frog! I am thinking you just gave some DHS agent heartburn…..try a little harder lol
  
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tharpdevenport
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:04pm
Remember: they probably have a system to avoid threads, like this one, where people are purposefully saying all the words to get their attention, so we need to do this RANDOMLY, that way they have no choice but to check up. Use these words in other threads here, at other sites, etc. If there’s no dicenrable pattern or way to avoid reading writings we do on purpose to waste their time, then they waste their time. If they’re gonna use our tax dollars to spy on us, let’s make sure they really, really, really earn that money.

But let’s not forget what else they are doing with our tax money, via Facebook:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/02/21/obama_regime_software_creates_fake_online_propaganda_profiles

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Firefighter 538
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:23pm
I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. ~James Madison

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Firefighter 538
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:49pm
Keep moving…nothing to see here….go on about your business…just your government at work…nothing to worry about…Keep moving…nothing to see here….go on about your business…just your government at work…nothing to worry about…Keep moving…nothing to see here….go on about your business…just your government at work…nothing to worry about……

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Publius Novus
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:09pm
GPS locator on smartphone…check
IP address locator through your internet carrier…check
e-mail monitoring through all US based companies (google/yahoo/verizon)…check
Keyword search scans…check
Word recognition software for forums, facebook, twitter…check
Patriot Act….Check
Internet “Anti- piracy Act”…check
Secretly working with Microsoft, Apple, IBM..etc for years to install spyware on all your devices…Check-A-Roo
Looks like they got it covered. Now, don’t you feel “protected”?

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FREEZZMAN
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:53pm
Hello, Dont you think facebook.twitter and some others are OWNED by the gov. They know your name,they know where you live ,they know your freinds,they know what you like to do, they know you political prefs, they know all and you gave it to them. I suggest you use these scocial apps very carefully.

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Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 6:55pm
I am sure this site, glennbeck.com and all subscribers to GBTV are on a watch list.

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- tharpdevenport
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 4:50am
  There was a Tea Party caller to another talk show. She sounded like an older lady. Said at one event there were Federal agents out there writing down the lisence plate numbers of attendees.
  
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CatherineAnn
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 4:54pm
I never thought I would see Americans put up with Big Brother watching them, controlling them and groping them. I want my freedoms back! We are living in the Twilight Zone.

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- phillipwgirard
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 6:51pm
  I agree CATHERINEANN, but what are we as people to do? Everytime we vote someone in they seem to go to the darkside. I am as frustrated as you.
  
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Cameraman
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 4:54pm
Gun Toting Freedom Loving Patroit, 3% taxpayer, Tea Party, Retired Senior,Marine Corp,Militia Member, straight shooter..Yeah! add that to the list you Commie Tratitors…Come get Some!!!!

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Lloyd Drako
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 4:14pm
Rick Santorum better watch his step. He’s always had a fascination with human-to-animal goings-on.

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RejectFalseIcons
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:24pm
Going dark. Shutting down all social media. Has anyone checked to see if they’re looking at FreedomConnector?

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AnAmerican111
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:01pm
Hey government! How about!
OBUMA is a criminal!
The Obuma administration is corrupt

…add that to your list.

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number9
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:50pm
DHS has way too much time on its hands.

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PApeacemaker
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:22pm
They only watch your emails if your a white Conservative, Republican, Gun enthusiast, Christian or just plain hate the US government. If your a Obama supporting liberal hippie they don’t give a crap whats in your emails. Or if your a boarder jumping illegal immigrant, muslim, or any minority its perfectly ok for you to brake the law & you really think the government cares what words they put in there emails??? HECK NO! Just say your a Black Panther in your emails & the FBI will let you alone since we all know that murdering criminal POS Eric Holder is a supporter of the Black Panthers. When the Fox guards the hen house all the chickens are screwed & guess what…the American people are not the Fox anymore, well at least middle class white America. If your a minority or illegal alien your doing pretty good.

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BurntHills
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:18pm
anyone trying to say obama is not exactly paralleling Adolph Hitler in the 1930s is being disassociative and is very afraid of the total Reality of what obama is doing to America.

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- Lloyd Drako
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 4:18pm
  Really? What rival political parties has he tried to ban? What ethnic minorities have been deprived of citizenship? What civil liberties, such as speech, assembly, press freedom, etc., has he suppressed or even limited? By the time he had been in power as long as Obama, Hitler had done all that and more. Do you think, for example, that Glenn Beck would still be alive if Obama resembled Hitler in any way? You are the one who is out of touch with reality!
  
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- NancyBee
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 4:59pm
  Burnthills….you are right…….People need to check this out……it is parallel…….history is repeating itself……..I’m reading Chronicle of the 20th Century(collections of newspaper articles 1900 thru 1986) the thirty’s are parrallel and it starts getting worse in mid thirties….when Hitler becomes the power of Germany….
  
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BurntHills
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:16pm
once America starts comparing what obama has already done, esp with his “TURN YOUR FAMILY & NEIGHBORS IN” informant snitch programs, to what Hitler did to Germany before he started rounding up and murdering his political opponents, the hospitalized terminally ill and the hospitalized mentally ill and the Jews, then America will finally realize what obama has in store for the taxpaying hardworking white Americans who oppose him.

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- Lloyd Drako
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 5:59pm
  Under Hitler, any criticism of the regime whatsoever carried severe penalties.Unless you have some reason to believe that your friends or relatives are plotting terrorist acts, Obama has no interest in them. If you really feared Obama and his minions as much as you affect to, you would not be commenting on The Blaze!
  
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- phillipwgirard
  Posted on December 28, 2011 at 6:54pm
  @LLOYD, Even Hitler started out slow
  
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- Lloyd Drako
  Posted on December 29, 2011 at 10:01am
  @Phillip:
  
  No, Hitler did not start slow.
  
  He came to power on Jan. 30, 1933.
  
  Less than a month later, on Feb. 28, the Reichstag fire gave him a pretext for suppressing all civil liberties by official decree.
  
  The first concentration camps were in business within a week of that, with Communist, Socialist, liberal, pacifist and other political opponents as favored guests.
  
  On Mar. 23, the Reichstag was bullied into passing an Enabling Act which gave Hitler the power to rule by decree.
  
  The German states–you may recall Germany was a federation of 20-odd states–were effectively abolished as of Apr. 7,
  
  On the same day, all Jews were ejected from the civil service and the legal profession.
  
  All labor unions were gone after May 2, their assets confiscated and their leaders arrested.
  
  All non-Nazi political organizations were banned as of July 14.
  
  All this, mind you, within six months of Hitler’s appointment to head the government.
  
  I repeat, what has Obama done to compare with it?
  
  What has he done that even leads you to suppose that he intends anything like it?
  
  Report this comment

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