Courtesy: www.fotolia.com
The government is monitoring social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to investigate income tax dodgers, political protestors and organizations, and copyright infringers, according to an editorial in the New York Sunday Times.
“The Wall Street Journal reported this summer that state revenue agents have been searching for tax scofflaws by mining information on MySpace and Facebook. In October, the F.B.I. searched the New York home of a man suspected of helping coordinate protests at the Group of 20 meeting in Pittsburgh by sending out messages over Twitter.
In some cases, the government appears to be engaged in deception. The Boston Globe recently quoted a Massachusetts district attorney as saying that some police officers were going undercover on Facebook as part of their investigations.
Wired magazine reported last month that In-Q-Tel, an investment arm of the Central Intelligence Agency, has put money into Visible Technologies, a software company that crawls across blogs, online forums, and open networks like Twitter and YouTube to monitor what is being said.”
The Times says the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, have filed Freedom of Information act lawsuits against the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency and other government offices to see what guidelines and what technologies are being used for the monitoring.
For example, are government agents authorized to assume fake identities to “friend” certain people or groups on Facebook to view their activities, or to use a false identity to “follow” activities on Twitter accounts? Would it be legal for government agencies to obtain information under such false pretenses without having a search warrant?
The Times says there is new, invasive technology now available to “spider” its way through the internet to track certain authors, words, computer IP addresses, or topics.
“Wired magazine reported last month that In-Q-Tel, an investment arm of the Central Intelligence Agency, has put money into Visible Technologies, a software company that crawls across blogs, online forums, and open networks like Twitter and YouTube to monitor what is being said.”
The New York Times concludes that a “national dialogue” must take place now to determine which government agencies are tracking the public on social networking sites, to what extent, and for what purpose.
To that end, the Electronic Frontier Foundation website is a treasure trove of information for online bloggers, or anyone who uses Facebook, Twitter and other social networking. This page details bloggers’ legal rights. This page contains “Surveillance Self-Defense” techniques to protect your computer and online transmissions.
President Obama campaigned on the importance of “transparency” in government. The Electronic Fronter Foundation offers this petition to the President to demand that the administration abide by the terms of the Freedom of Information Act and release the requested documents.
We deserve to know how our government is spying on us and what it wants to know.
This story is developing. You have been warned.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Jason Moore commented on your status: “Many have said that you are one of them Dan…”
Ann Moorman commented on your link: “guess I better stop whistling Dixie and start chanting yes we can.”
Dan Pflaum commented on your status: “Typical libs–insecure to the point of paranoid. Makes me happy for them to be eavesdropping on all the unadulterated hate and disgust decent people feel for this administration.”
Phil Laudicina commented on your link: “F***K them! Come and get me!”
Jason Moore commented on your link: “lol…I have been posting this for about 4 months now. Facebook does routine “dumps” of the entire network and is saving information on servers in Maryland and Virginia. The information is retrieved political and related info. I am sure you have noticed the red underlined words in your posts and emails.”
Gregory Allen Shirk commented on your status: “So what are they gonna find, free speech…Haha! This is too funny. The left are sure worried…”
Debra J Frank commented on your link: “KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN – HILTER will look like a SAINT compared to whats coming ???????”
Will sent you a message. Subject:
The Government Is Monitoring Facebook And Twitter |
http://www.facebook.com/l/8a4dd;NewsBusters.org Will has shared a link with you.
To view it or to reply to the message, follow this link:http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox%2Freadmessage.php&t=230802994902&mid=190b894G5af327347a5cG121749G0
Tamara K Winfrey commented on your link: “They monitor everything like this & have done so for years.”
I always wanted my boss to watch me work, because he could see first hand how good I was.I want the government to read my words, because there is no bigger patriot in this country than me.I want the government to know that I know it can be changed, knowing this I am quite happy with the enlightened form of government our founders provided us, we shall prevail in 2010, so revolution is not necessary or desired by anyone. Peaceful elections are all we need.We shall reform our government not revolutionize it.
Gregory Allen Shirk commented on your post: “Yes, but Democrat Senators are already starting to jump off the USS Obama while it’s sinking. Like Evan Bayh who was stabbing his own party in the back on Greta’s show.He won’t let Obama take his Senate seat.”
Rich Meyers
Uh oh. I’m in trouble. lol Come and get me, Obama. You’ll find I’m not easily intimidated by a 2 bit dictator and his thugs.
Anita Carlson lol thats funny
Russell Dumis THEN WE NEED TO SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF THEM
Anita Carlson not sure thats possible russell
Gregory Shirk They’re already scared they are gonna lose both houses of Congress.
agoIsaac GroverI agree with the lot of you! Come get me I’m armed to the teeth and am trained in survival! Down with the commi obamanator!
Leslie Millernot suprised won’t work though America was built in response to OPRESSION. what else is new
Cashis Kinghttp://www.pitbulltrading.blogspot.com @!!! FIGHT THE POWER Sign up for the LATEST..
Michael OrtI’m throwing in with the rest of these guys. Let ‘em monitor me. If it gets bad enough, I can survive.
James MarcyGo ahead and monitor obumble, we’re armed to the teeth.
Rich Meyers We’ll see if there are a few Dems with the guts to stand up to Obama and his thugs. I hope someone comes out of the pack, but until the vote actually comes down, we won’t know.
Gregory Shirk Yes, but Democrat Senators are already starting to jump off the USS Obama while it’s sinking. Like Evan Bayh who was stabbing his own party in the back on Greta’s show.He won’t let Obama take his Senate seat.
James Duke They can moniter all they want I agree with terry FEAR ME liberal scum
Rich MeyersI think their number 1 agenda is to pass all of their extreme legislation, before the election in 2010. Their 2nd is to try to get reelected. They know that even if they lose their elections, reversing this legislation is going to be near impossible without a Reverse Super Majority and they know that is extremely unlikely.
Anita Carlson Its really not surprising that they’re monitoring this too
4Terry Hutchinson It does not matter anyways, they do not care what we think or say. SO screw them, I am not intimidated.I do not fear my Governemnt, it fears me !!!!!
http://www.uncoverage.net/2010/01/the-radical-take-over-of-america/
Cary Stephens
They are looking for people that disagree with “the one”. It is a branch of the new Gestapo tactics that are being employed by Obama. They have been actively creating lists for some time now. It is standard Modus Operandi for Communists and Fascists. Silence all dissent. Fear them, or fear God; the choice is yours.
Mark Paquette Good – let them monitor this: I will, as is my patriotic duty, see that traitors are hanged.
Lisa Smith Fear God-and everything else will fall into place…
i am glad you guys are posting-I will put my name behind your stand too!
Tanya Robinson
Fear God, or fear them. I like that. Think I’ll stick with fearing God, a definite No-Lose, Win-Win scenario. Even so, this big-brother surveillance society has already gotten old 4 me, with no relief in sight. Maybe if I stuck with playing the games on FB the way everyone else does I’d get some peace: i could dream of purple cats and green cows on Farmville. Wait, am I trapped in a Dr. Who episode? :=P
Hmmm….they can do this but they cant find Osama….let me give them a hint….it’s called google earth
There are two (2) types of leaders in the world.
(1) There are those who are called & anointed by Almighty God to be leaders of men. These are the ones who are not ashamed of their faith in God & humble themselves before Him praying & seeking God for wisdom, knowledge, & understanding in the governance of men & nations. “When righteous men rule the people rejoice”.
(2) Then there are cowardly manipulators who are lead by demonic influence & godless arrogant ideals of building & leading some type of a utopian society. One where the people are ruled & controlled by fear & intimidation & the forceful will of the evil ruler. I.E. Dictators & tyrants. Their evil forms of government: marxism, communism, socialism, fascism, maoism, totalitarianism, cruel slavery. ETC. “When wicked men rule the people mourn”.
Which type of leader do you think we now have leading our nation?
Sincerely & Unapologetically, James (Jim) H. Taylor Jr. of Bryan, TX “One Man of Courage” Among many! 1 Corinthians 16:13
How can the government legally monitor FB? This surveillance is against the first amendment to the freedom of speech, 5th and 14th. What is going on? Do we live in china?
Please some one take this to the US Supreme court. Who are the sneaks that act like they are republ when they are really Democrats?
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