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Wisconsin Joins the Matrix [updated]

Posted by timothy on from the suspected-of-cheese dept.

unassimilatible writes "Wired reports that Wisconsin has decided to join a controversial interstate antiterrorism database that holds billions of records of ordinary Americans' activities known as the MATRIX, or Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange. Is your state next?" Update: 03/10 19:05 GMT by T : Thanks to reader philthedrill for a correction: according to an article in the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Daily Cardinal, Wisconsin has backed out of the Matrix, effective yesterday.

2 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory reference by smack_attack · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wake Up Wisconsin...

    The MATRIX has you...

    Follow the white Republican...

    --

    Hammer of Truth
  2. article went a little overboard? by hoyosa · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The article and the MATRIX homepage, seem to have some differences in what information they collect. The data that they do collect/have doesn't really seem like it would be a bad thing.

    from the MATRIX homepage:

    The Data Reference Repository
    EXCLUDED DATA

    The reference repository does not contain the following:

    * Telemarketing calling lists
    * Direct mail mailing lists
    * Airline reservations or travel records
    * Frequent flyer/hotel stay program membership or activity
    * Magazine subscriptions lists or reading lists
    * Telephone calling logs or records
    * Credit card or debit numbers
    * Purchases (e.g., retail store, Internet, or even gas stations)
    * Mortgage or car payments
    * Bank account numbers or account balances
    * The costs of a home addition
    * Birth certificates
    * Marriage licenses
    * Divorce decrees
    * Utility bill payments (i.e., gas, electric, phone, heating oil, cable or satellite TV)

    Therefore, such data is not provided to law enforcement. Under federal law, when such data is required to further a law enforcement investigation, law enforcement must obtain a judicial order (i.e., subpoena) and serve it directly on the organization having or owning such data.

    INCLUDED DATA

    The data reference repository for the FACTS application contains public records from thousands of locations (i.e., county courthouses and other public records locations) on U.S. individuals and businesses. Examples include:

    * FAA pilot licenses and aircraft ownership
    * Property ownership
    * Coast Guard registered vessels
    * State sexual offenders lists
    * Federal terrorists watch lists
    * Corporation filings
    * Uniform Commercial Code filings (i.e., UCCs or business liens)
    * Bankruptcy filings
    * State-issued professional licenses