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Homeland Security Given Green Light to Monitor American Journalists

Jan. 9, 2012 11:44pm Tiffany Gabbay

Under the National Operations Center (NOC)’s Media Monitoring Initiative that emerged from the Department of Homeland Security in November, Washington has written permission to collect and retain personal information from journalists, news anchors, reporters or anyone who uses “traditional and/or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed.”

According to DHS, the definition of personal identifiable information can consist of any intellect “that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information which is linked or linkable to that individual.”

RT adds:

Previously established guidelines within the administration say that data could only be collected under authorization set forth by written code, but the new provisions in the NOC’s write-up means that any reporter, whether someone along the lines of Walter Cronkite or a budding blogger, can be victimized by the agency.

Also included in the roster of those subjected to the spying are government officials, domestic or not, who make public statements, private sector employees that do the same and “persons known to have been involved in major crimes of Homeland Security interest,” which to itself opens up the possibilities even wider.

The department says that they will only scour publically-made info available while retaining data, but it doesn’t help but raise suspicion as to why the government is going out of their way to spend time, money and resources on watching over those that helped bring news to the masses.

According to RT, the website “Fast Company” reports that the NOC Monitoring Initiative has been in play since at least early-2010 and that the data is being shared with both private sector businesses and international third parties.

(h/t: RT)

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Comments (471)

Wakeup Maggie
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:38am
Here we go

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skipmontesjr
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:32am
Wow….I am stunned this is going thru not that this administration is tightening their grip on sources that tell the truth like Fox etc…I am just stunned our Republicans are going along with this crap…So now we are Russia or China or some other communist crap hole…Great…Looks like Costa Rica or Cabo or Belize is going to eventually be home….Welcome to the United Socialist Republic of States…This is crazy….If they want to protect us so bad how about securing our boarders and getting serious about keeping out foreign roaches who want to implement Sharia Law….But I guess that just isn’t in the cards eh…No wonder in the end we are not mentioned in the good book….

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- AxelPhantom
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:10am
  They didn’t want to protect us, we demanded it after 9-11 and they gave us what we thought we wanted, just like with the wars in Afg. and Iraq, the fact that they also used it as a power grab, well that is just the icing on the cake for them.
  
  The border with Mexico will never be secured until we have our own sources of oil developed. Mexico is our 2nd largest provider (Canada is #1). My guess is that is goes something like this:
  President Calderone; You aren’t thinking about doing something crazy are you? US President: Well, we have been losing a lot of money paying those benefits for all of your citizens that have illegally crossed the border and we are nearly broke. Calderone: I guess since you are nearly broke, you won’t be needing all of that cheap oil we have been sending your way. President: Let’s not be hasty now, Phillipe. I am sure we can work something out that benefits both of us….I mean our Countries….
  
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- Extraterrestrial
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 11:51pm
  All the media is obviously under the control of the fed, it has been for many years. Did you actually think that Obama got to the White House on his merits? We’re talking about a guy who has not held a real job in his entire life yet nobody ever questioned his past. It is proof that the media has been getting controlled in what they are allowed to report. Now the gov’t is getting more bold in its lack of fear of the public knowing our rights to privacy have totally been removed by the actions this article mentions. Political correctness removed our freedom of speech. Now gov’t enforcement of the Internet will surely persecute those who don’t toe the party line.
  
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kevin
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:26am
you should check out neil keenans lawsuit filed in ny southern district court it will shed new light on everything and ties it all together prove me wrong i dare ya!
filed 11/23/11 case 8500

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OldSoldier
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:18am
“It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.”

Herbert Hoover
31st President of The United States Of America

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- mrsalvage2
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:01am
  Just like Adams, the Monarchist
  
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jtm45
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:17am
Like they don’t already? all cell phone calls,all wireless you name it they have been monitoring for years.

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- BOMUSTGO
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 3:40am
  I heard that all new passports have RFID chips in them.
  
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Collbuzz
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:08am
Uh, just asking but, anyone heard of the first Ammendement? Oh yeah our president ( aka DICTATOR) thinks it lives and changes. Be careful everyone, especially if you are a known conservative.

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Felix Dzerzhinsky
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:57am
“RT” the source of this article:

http://www.aim.org/aim-column/russian-tv-sounds-like-soviet-tv/

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slr4528
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:54am
Does the name Chavez come to mind?

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colt1860
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:51am
Anyone still think the DHS was a good idea? Going after grandma and sis ain’t exactly doing anything to protect us. Las Vegas casinos do a better job with their private teams at SECURITY than the federal TSA.

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justangry
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:49am
BTW Great job Blaze getting this out there.

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davidwjohnson
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:48am
I guess George Stephanopoulos or Diane Sawyers won’t seem so self-righteous when the black SUVs, wiretaps, and trench coats from the government monitor their activities. And they thought they were Obama’s favorites!

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The Catbird
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:47am
Eff Ewe Big sis, just in case yer’ reading this.

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JustMel71
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:47am
I wonder what the candidates think of the Patriot Act? I know Dr. Paul voted against it. Do you know where you candidates stands? How about the NDAA (1540).
H R 1540 RECORDED VOTE 26 May-2011

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll375.xml#N

Oh look Dr. Paul voted against that too. Gee, he’s pretty consistent.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/10379-ron-paul-calls-national-defense-authorization-act-qslip-into-tyrannyq

But shh.. don’t worry about this or any other legislation passed. It is for our own good. Now move along. Nothing to see here. Just govt hoping we’re not paying attention and apparently we’re not.

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Thomas Jefferson

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antrancher
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:46am
Connections to the Fema Camps???

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nzkiwi
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:42am
If I was an American, I would be on the phone right this minute to my congressman and senators. This should be the hot topic for the presidential candidates.

It is not my country, but this fundamental liberty is being directly attacked, and I urge my American friends to fight this move tooth and nail. This goes far beyond party politics, this is an attack on the very fabric of your nation and it must not stand.

The first amendment is the only protection that your country has against tyranny. Without it, or with the ability of governments to bully and intimidate the fourth estate, the UN can come marching in – and don’t think for one minute that they won’t. They have been praying for this. And if not the UN, then a despot of any stripe.

Fight against this or you will be left defenceless. And while a homeowner’s guns might give him some comfort they will not suffice. The individual and the government are natural enemies, and governments repeatedly demonstrate that they have no qualms about crushing the individual. Your SOLE protection is a free and protected press to keep you informed. YOUR SOLE PROTECTION, and this little nibble is only the beginning.

The reason that I am so vehement about this,as a non-American, is simple. If America falls, so eventually do all western countries. Including mine. And we enter a time of gulags, pogroms, and slavery.

I beg you, pick up the phone now.

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LMW
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:42am
As much as I hate Obama we must not forget we have the house and senate who has done nothing to stop this from happening. In fact do you not notice the silence coming from them? They know that when martial law is invoked the present status quo will be in place so they too will be in power. Wake up America, our government has betrayed us and is doing so now. Our own government are traitors and should be stopped now before it is too late. We have too many people who still think our government would never hurt us and that our Dems and Repubs would never let it happen. Why do you think we have so many foreign troops based upon our soil at this time? Our troops are overseas and supposed to be coming home but have you seen but a token few coming home? 40,000 will be discharged while the rest will be moved around overseas and placed where they too will be held hostage? We have a Chinese military base in California, a German AFB in New Mexico as well as other foreign bases scattered around the US. They have their own guards, equipment, are exempt from our laws and we have no control over them. Ask yourselves why? If you do not believe me check it out yourselves. Ask questions and get scared my friends, very scared.

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- AxelPhantom
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:22am
  I looked, like you suggested (for a Chinese military base in California) and after 12 pages of searches, Nada, bupkiss. Either wherever you saw it has been removed or—-something
  
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antrancher
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:41am
The Obama Sedition Act!!

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ldaopines
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:41am
Wait a minute! Weren’t journalists supposed to monitor the government??

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vtxphantom
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:40am
They can only kill you once!

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- nzkiwi
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:51am
  More than once if you have a family.
  
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- BOMUSTGO
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 3:42am
  They can desroy the body but not the soul.
  
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GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:31am
They are unleashing the dogs….I can’t imagine size of Beck’s file….they will need a truck for that one.

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conbones
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:29am
We are not going to make it to the next election.
I wish i new were to go when the **** hits the fan.

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- AxelPhantom
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 2:14am
  July.
  
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Felix Dzerzhinsky
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:28am
Why is the Blaze quoting “RT” a Russian state run KGB propaganda outlet aimed at spreading anti-Americanism? What is going on here at the Blaze?? Get better sources and stop aiding the enemy.

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lukerw
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:20am
Fascist Dictators need a Gestapo!

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- USAMEDIC3008
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:36am
  Ziggg hell
  Thats Hillbilly for phuckum.
  
  Report this comment
- colt1860
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:55am
  Yep.
  
  “One of the most traumatic events in German history occurred soon after Hitler took office. On February 27, 1933, in what easily could be termed the 9/11 terrorist attack of that time, German terrorists fire-bombed the German parliament building. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Adolf Hitler, one of the strongest political leaders in history, would declare war on terrorism and ask the German parliament (the Reichstag) to give him temporary emergency powers to fight the terrorists. Passionately claiming that such powers were necessary to protect the freedom and well-being of the German people, Hitler persuaded the German legislators to give him the emergency powers he needed to confront the terrorist crisis. What became known as the Enabling Act allowed Hitler to suspend civil liberties “temporarily,” that is, until the crisis had passed. Not surprisingly, however, the threat of terrorism never subsided and Hitler’s “temporary” emergency powers, which were periodically renewed by the Reichstag, were still in effect when he took his own life some 12 years later.” http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0703a.asp
  
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- colt1860
  Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:59am
  “The Reichstag Fire Decree placed severe limitations on personal freedom, the right of free expression, the freedom of the press, and the freedom of assembly; it permitted the authorities to spy on people’s private communications through the post, telegraph, and telephone; it allowed the police to conduct search and seizure operations in private homes; and it enabled the police to arrest people and put them in protective custody without charging them with a specific offense.”
  
  “Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124 and 153 of the Constitution of the German Reich are suspended until further notice. It is therefore permissible to restrict the rights of personal freedom [habeas corpus], freedom of opinion, including the freedom of the press, the freedom to organize and assemble, the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications. Warrants for House searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.”
  
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xray3delta
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:17am
Gee why would they do that….?

Washington America.Com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Scott E, Founder
1-860-405-5199
scotte@washingtonamerica.com

WASHINGTONAMERICA.COM APPOINTS ACTIVIST AS NEW EDITOR
Timothy Adams Appointed Editor for Growing Political Web Presence

WEB: January 8, 2012—Tim Adams, former Senior Elections Clerk for the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii is taking over editorial operations at WashingtonAmerica.Com (America’s Website) as they enter their third year as a popular pop-cultural timeline of American events.
Scott Erlandson, creator of the family of websites under the America’s Website franchise, stated that, “There will continue to be a heavy emphasis on music, politics and the American attitude. Tim will take the website to the next level of availability to the American public as: ‘The Poor Richard’s almanac of the third millennium.”
Mr. Erlandson will become artistic, video and musical director for future operations, and will join Tim as two of what will eventually become a thirteen member board, designated to manage and maintain the various web domains as a non-profit series of sites for the American people. Mr. Erlandson closed by saying, “They are the people’s sites and will be run democratically by our thirteen board members.”
Washington America welcomes Tim as a full partner and looks forward to his wonderful and insightful, pure American, journalism, as well as his organizational and editoria

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The_Jerk
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 12:16am
Nineteen Eighty-Four

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