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US May Issue Terror Alerts On Facebook, Twitter

Posted by timothy on from the he-ain't-heavy-he's-my-big-brother dept.

CWmike writes "The US government may start issuing terror alerts using Facebook and Twitter, which were thrust again in the spotlight recently as lifelines in Japan. An AP report Thursday, based on a 19-page draft of the plan that the news service obtained, said DHS is working to overhaul the current color-coded terror alert system. 'The new terror alerts would ... be published online using Facebook and Twitter 'when appropriate,' the AP reports, 'but only after federal, state and local government leaders have already been notified.' Zeus Kerravala, an analyst at the Yankee Group, said the government entrusting something as critical as terrorist alerts to Facebook and Twitter shows how important social networking sites have become to people's lives. 'There are hundreds of millions of people using Facebook and Twitter. For many of them, it's their primary communication tool,' Kerravala said. 'That means it's a great way to get information to a massive number of people. Maybe the best.'"

104 comments

  1. Status Update: by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 2

    The US Government's status was just updated to "You're all guilty of something, just wait until we catch you!"

    1. Re:Status Update: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How long until people start to create Dead Pool style lists updated for the internet age?
      I propose we call it FailPool.

      Everyone picks 10 services/databases and the first one to get a list where all 10 were hacked, data breached, leaked, DDoS'd or pwned wins.

      This service goes on my list.

    2. Re:Status Update: by ackthpt · · Score: 2

      The US Government's status was just updated to "You're all guilty of something, just wait until we catch you!"

      I'll tell ya what people are guilty of, travelers and airlines - letting people carry on those huge bags which take up 2 or 3 times the volume allowed. When are they going to start enforcing that little box, the one that says linear size

      Should be an alert for this sort of thing - Warning: Flight is booked with people trying to bring on suitcases disguised as carryons! Alert level: Plaid!"

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    3. Re:Status Update: by meerling · · Score: 1

      I take my absolutely can't lose stuff in carry-on for a simple reason, the time my luggage arrived 9 months and 10 days after I did.
      Whenever the check-in counter person complains about my carry-on stuff, I point out that incident and they immediately shut up.

    4. Re:Status Update: by buchner.johannes · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The problem with terror alerts is that they are vague. Recently, the US had given out a terror alert for the EU. For the whole EU. That helps a lot. Additional text: The danger is real. Might be, but what is the alert useful for other than having a scared, paranoid population?

      The danger levels of the color-coded terror alert level will never go down to low. We are supposed to be always be afraid. But here is the flaw in the logic: The danger wasn't zero before 9/11. So can we have a "no elevated danger" level when the danger is at that background level and specific alerts otherwise.

      And please, someone give those people a link to Schneiers blog. I'm sure the specialists are aware of the security issues, but somewhere between them and the notifications there is a gap of knowledge and awareness.

      --
      NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.
    5. Re:Status Update: by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 2

      The problem with terror alerts is that they are vague.

      They're vague because it's very difficult to convince everyone in the US to slowly give up their personal rights & freedoms if you're too specific. The beauty of the 'Boogeyman announcements' is that the Boogeyman could be right outside your window and you wouldn't even know it. And even if he isn't out there right this very moment he could be there the next time you go check.

    6. Re:Status Update: by blair1q · · Score: 1

      But I don't think they were serious. The tweet linked to a goatse URL.

    7. Re:Status Update: by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 1

      But I don't think they were serious. The tweet linked to a goatse URL.

      That wasn't 'goatse', it was an artist's interpretation of what he sees when he watches Congress on C-SPAN.

    8. Re:Status Update: by Grygus · · Score: 1

      The real value of being vague is that any specified threat would not scare everyone. By leaving it up to the individual, each person conjures up not just a boogeyman, but a personalized boogeyman that actually scares them as an individual. The best part about this is that the government can never act on the threat since it is actually a legion of different threats, all promoted by different segments of the populace as "the real problem." So instead of having the people say, "well if the [specified threat] are so bad why don't we DO something about it," you get the populace fighting over what the real threat is; it's permanent and self-sustaining without casting much doubt on authority. It's a pretty brilliant technique, as long as your main concern is retaining power and not actually making anyone's lives any better.

    9. Re:Status Update: by subreality · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The problem with terror alerts is that they are vague.

      Even if they gave us more specifics, there's no associated reasonable response to them.

      They look sort of like DEFCON levels, but they're not. DEFCON levels signal that it's time for specific groups to perform certain actions. At DEFCON 4 intelligence guys are activated and base security goes up. At DEFCON 3 you're organizing the troops and starting to make active preparations for war. And so on.

      The terror alerts are useless. Let's say they give one that's pretty specific: San Jose is now at Red for this week. Does the SJPD set up inspection checkpoints for trucks? Does ATC divert all flights from SJC to SFO? Do they deploy guards to protect the reservoirs from poisoning? Are ANY specific actions indicated? If not, then all you're going to have is random fucknuts getting scared when they see a group of more than 3 of any ethnic minority.

      The dumbest display I ever saw of this was a sign at a colo data center we used indicating that we were at level Orange. They weren't doing anything differently (just the same marginally acceptable security procedures as always). But they're a security checkpoint, and terror alerts have something to do with security, so they put up a sign.

    10. Re:Status Update: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is absolutely no way that your absolutely can't lose stuff takes up more space than a standard carry-on. FYI.

    11. Re:Status Update: by Abstrackt · · Score: 2

      Do you actually bring so much absolutely can't lose stuff that your carry-on doesn't fit in the sizer? If that's the case, I highly recommend you take a look at onebag.com's packing list.

      --
      They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett
    12. Re:Status Update: by jansifae · · Score: 1

      We need two terror alert levels... "Go find a helmet" and "Put on the fucking helmet"....

    13. Re:Status Update: by avatar139 · · Score: 1

      The problem with terror alerts is that they are vague.

      Even if they gave us more specifics, there's no associated reasonable response to them.

      They look sort of like DEFCON levels, but they're not. DEFCON levels signal that it's time for specific groups to perform certain actions. At DEFCON 4 intelligence guys are activated and base security goes up. At DEFCON 3 you're organizing the troops and starting to make active preparations for war. And so on.

      No, there is a response that goes along with the alert levels as here in the SFBay Area, BART and other public transit agencies generally use those alerts as an excuse to close all the restrooms in their buildings in an effort to cut janitorial costs to "reasonable" levels!

      --
      I'm honest enough to admit I lie to myself.
    14. Re:Status Update: by kdemetter · · Score: 1

      I take my "absolutely can't lose stuff " in carry-on for a simple reason, the time my luggage arrived 9 months and 10 days after I did.
      Whenever the check-in counter person complains about my carry-on stuff, I point out that incident and they immediately shut up.

      Now it makes sense :-)

      --
      Slipping shoelaces ?
    15. Re:Status Update: by kdemetter · · Score: 1

      So it's based on a 'divide and conquer' technique : keep the people afraid of each other , and they leave the government alone ( and as an added bonus , the government becomes the 'protector' of all these different people, making those people believe they cannot survive without it )

      --
      Slipping shoelaces ?
    16. Re:Status Update: by Mitreya · · Score: 1

      Obligatory Simpsons (Kent Brockman) quote:

      The [federal] government has just issued an Orange Alert, which again means... nothing.

    17. Re:Status Update: by Leebert · · Score: 1

      The danger levels of the color-coded terror alert level will never go down to low. We are supposed to be always be afraid. But here is the flaw in the logic: The danger wasn't zero before 9/11. So can we have a "no elevated danger" level when the danger is at that background level and specific alerts otherwise.

      Yes. The Homeland Security Advisory System (the pretty rainbow) is in the active process of being replaced with exactly such a system. See: http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas.shtm

    18. Re:Status Update: by BeanThere · · Score: 1

      Other than to 'keep people scared', why not use this for something that does actually have a reasonable chance of occurring and affecting a lot of people, e.g. a tsunami alert system or something.

    19. Re:Status Update: by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      The US Government's status was just updated to "You're all guilty of something, just wait until we catch you!"

      I'll tell ya what people are guilty of, travelers and airlines - letting people carry on those huge bags which take up 2 or 3 times the volume allowed. When are they going to start enforcing that little box, the one that says linear size

      Should be an alert for this sort of thing - Warning: Flight is booked with people trying to bring on suitcases disguised as carryons! Alert level: Plaid!"

      I think you've hit the nail on the head as far as the decline and inevitable fall of Western Civilization is concerned.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  2. Okay, bomb time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ....guts coming out

  3. If it really matters... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If it really matters, I will hear a loud noise and turn on the radio or TV to find out what caused it.

    Local governments here already issue "shelter in place" alerts, and make reverse-911 calls for more common events, like non-terrorist related chemical spills and refinery flares.

    Terror alerts are meaningless for just about everybody. An "increased likelyhood" that somebody from Al Qaeda is going to do something in New York? What am I supposed to do with that information in San Francisco? What am I supposed to do with it in New York even?

    Useless.

    1. Re:If it really matters... by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2

      Terror alerts are meaningless for just about everybody. An "increased likelyhood" that somebody from Al Qaeda is going to do something in New York? What am I supposed to do with that information in San Francisco? What am I supposed to do with it in New York even?

      Useless.

      At first I just rolled my eyes at this announcement. But now that you've put it in proper perspective, I understand how appropriate Twitter and Facebook is for this kind of thing.

    2. Re:If it really matters... by hedwards · · Score: 1

      That's a solid point. Back when I was working security, the terror alerts were somewhat useful, but for most people they're mostly a way to scare people. Perhaps if people had some idea what to do with the information it might be helpful, but as it is there's little actual benefit for most people being made aware of it.

    3. Re:If it really matters... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Check and make sure your neighbor's not a terrist, and that nobody's lurking in the shadows. Oh, look someone over there, shoot him! Shoot him! Oh it was just some homeless man who lost his house in the real estate crash and didn't find a job. Okay no loss. Carry on citizens... But keep on the alert for terrists! :(

  4. Pfft. Now the terrorists won't even have to fly! by ackthpt · · Score: 1

    They can just call up and say "Boo!" in to the phone and watch the color code go up - it'll be their new little game, a terrorist version of Tetris - call it Terrotris.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  5. ORANGE! by MrQuacker · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Great, so for the next ten years I can receive hourly alerts of:

    "THREAT STATUS ORANGE: Someone, Somewhere, May be planning AN ATTACK AGAINST THE USA. STAY ALERT AND REPORT ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY."

    1. Re:ORANGE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is amazing that I heard the threat status almost once a week since 9-11 and then it just stopped around January 2009. I am not sure what changed.

  6. Twitfed's feed: by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 1

    @binladen: Oh no you di-ent! #dirtybomb #WMD

  7. I have a bad memory by zill · · Score: 1

    Did they get a chance to use green and blue yet?

    I'm starting to think that we will never see those two alert levels being used.

    1. Re:I have a bad memory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But blue is for a general level of risk. Even if the risk level hasn't spent very long at low(green) in the past few years it pretty much has to have spent some time at 'usual' levels of risk mustn't it?

      Grade inflation? Review inflation?
      4/5 is the new average, so let's make 'well above average' the average for everything eh? Sounds swell.

    2. Re:I have a bad memory by meerling · · Score: 1

      The colors are a waste of ink/electrons. I don't know anybody that can remember what they are without checking a list other than green is safe and red is deep you know what. Just do a simple number scale, people understand that without checking a chart.

    3. Re:I have a bad memory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      For the love of God, won't someone think of the Electrons! Electrons are people too!

    4. Re:I have a bad memory by timeOday · · Score: 1

      I would prefer a probability (i.e. a scalar between 0.0 and 1.0). That way after they issue a dozen or so we can go back and determine how accurate they really are, and adjust our fear accordingly.

  8. One of the Mediums Used by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 1
    FTS:

    the government entrusting something as critical as terrorist alerts to Facebook and Twitter shows how important social networking sites have become to people's lives

    Social networks could become one of the mediums used to broadcast alerts. It's not like they're going to abandon all other methods.
    Gov Official: What are you doing the the 'Restricted Zone'?
    Citizen: What - what happened? It's horrible!
    Gov Official: Didn't you get the alert? It was all over Facebook and Twitter.
    Citizen: Facebook? Twitter? There was a huge explosion and my power went out ... and my internet ... and my cell phone!
    Gov Official: Sorry, it's not our fault you weren't properly prepared for alternate social networking methods.

  9. Good by geekoid · · Score: 1

    while I don't like them calling it terror alerts, having an emergency broadcast system is a good thing. Adding this along with radio and TV will only help.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:Good by rrhal · · Score: 1

      Does that mean you'll be first on your block to "friend" Homeland Security?

      --
      All generalizations are false, including this one. Mark Twain
    2. Re:Good by timeOday · · Score: 1
      I agree that getting the word out quickly is important in certain circumstances - but that happens automatically for all important information (and some not-so important information) these days, does it not? The media (broadly defined to including bloggers, twits, etc) have already done their job for them. If the government said there was a high probability of a terrorist attack with some specificity as to time and place, you can bet word would travel fast.

      Maybe not quite fast enough for something like a tsunami warning system, but no single event could threaten the entire US on that timescale anyways.

  10. Obama to hold town hall meeting on FB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    President Obama is also going to be holding town hall meetings on Facebook:

    http://techland.time.com/2011/04/05/obama-to-host-town-hall-meeting-on-facebook/

    I've said it before and been shouted down, but eventually not having FB is going to be like not being on the internet. More and more things start to require it, even if a few luddites will say, "Bah, I'll just hole up in my basement and not participate".

    1. Re:Obama to hold town hall meeting on FB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That just means Facebook will eventually be acquired by the government, ending our privacy fears and renewing our oppression fears.

  11. Terror Organization at large by 3seas · · Score: 1

    The US government is a terror organization. They just want to use newer technology to terrorize people. TV and Fox news is old.

    1. Re:Terror Organization at large by meerling · · Score: 3, Funny

      Fox news is not old, they make up things fresh every day!

  12. How could this possibly go wrong? by icebike · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Lets see, two hundred and fifty million friends and followers all running for cover the first time some 133t hakzor compromises the DHS accounts. Quick, better make Facebook/Twitter federally protected entities, so we can gitmo anyone posting or tweeting anything that might be mistaken for the US government.

    Facebook and Twitter couldn't possibly pay the advertising bill that would bring in this many new users. Now Ma and Pa Polyester HAVE to belly up to the meat market, no more ignoring Facebook/Twitter.

    --
    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    1. Re:How could this possibly go wrong? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Now Ma and Pa Polyester HAVE to belly up to the meat market, no more ignoring Facebook/Twitter.

      They also hold presidential Town Hall meetings on Facebook.

      No worries, you can access these things in other ways.

      For now.

    2. Re:How could this possibly go wrong? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, this sounds about right. Now we can pay the alerts exactly the amount of serious attention they deserve: none.

  13. Great, More Fear Mongering... by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 2

    More ways to keep regular people fearful and compliant. Yippee!

    Anybody else see the reports about the underwear bomber that came out last week? The guy bought a ticket a to Detroit because he couldn't afford the ticket to Chicago. That's the best al qaeda's got - somebody who can't even come up with an extra $100. Meanwhile, we've spent over a trillion dollars on anti-terrorism bullshit since 9-11, and that doesn't even include the opportunity costs of things like the millions of man-hours wasted taking our shoes off at the airport.

    I suppose we can expect mandatory Amber Alerts on facebook and twitter too - gotta keep those housewives terrified of strangers - nevermind the fact that practically all child molestations and abductions are committed by family and people trusted by the family (like priests, etc).

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    1. Re:Great, More Fear Mongering... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dont worry now that ITAsoftware is part of GOOGLE, they will be able to get the best deal and find a ticket thats cheaper by $100
      http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/04/08/2120226/Feds-Approve-Googles-Purchase-of-ITA-Software

  14. Ehh... by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 2

    It might make sense to do it this way, a lot of people's mobile devices have Facebook and Twitter clients, so using them will let them pop the warnings up on a wide variety of devices.

    Probably easier and cheaper to implement than to send text messages.

  15. #UPDATE by oldhack · · Score: 1

    OMG! Red Alert! RED!11!!

    LOL

    STFU noob. Im CEREAL.

    --
    Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
    1. Re:#UPDATE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      STFU noob. Im SUPER CEREAL.

      TFTFY

      (Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.)

  16. Fear Mongering...Its not just for breakfast! by TiggertheMad · · Score: 1

    Yeah, you would think the government would work on actually saving lives by providing people with timely alerts about legitimately dangerous things, like...FUCKING EARTHQUAKES.

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
    1. Re:Fear Mongering...Its not just for breakfast! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Earthquake notification service https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/

  17. EAS has got to get with the times... by ChePibe · · Score: 2

    I realize the issue here is alerts regarding terrorism, but the broader issue is the Emergency Alert System.

    If a message ever did go out on the EAS as it stands today, I'd probably never know about it. I don't have cable TV and very rarely watch any TV over the air (thank you, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon video). I don't listen to the radio unless I happen to be in the car and without my iPod. I spend far more time on Facebook on any given day than I do plugged into any medium which uses the EAS - and I really don't spend much time at all on Facebook. Reverse 911 is a step in the right direction but I frequently leave my phone on vibrate or silent in the evenings.

    While there are certainly opportunities for abuse, this is a step in the right direction. But a fairly small one.

    1. Re:EAS has got to get with the times... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Oh you'd know about it alright. Just going around on your day to day activities you may notice something like the neighbours packing, the streets blocked for no reason, and that kind of garbage. As soon as the alert goes anywhere above a slight yellow tinge the headlines will run with "OMG SAVE YOURSELVES". Think the opening scenes of Independence Day where Will Smith walks out to get his newspaper and sees the entire street fleeing.

      You may just be the hero we are all looking for.

    2. Re:EAS has got to get with the times... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      maybe you would, but for the rest of us who stay home all day don't really see much sunlight.

    3. Re:EAS has got to get with the times... by thoughtlover · · Score: 1

      Aye, Reverse 911 is a good step, but for those of us who don't use Twitter or Facebook, I'd think that Slashdot would be a better place to issue one. Just try not to issue one on April Fools, because that's the only day I stay away from this time suck.

      --
      No sig for you! Come back one year!
    4. Re:EAS has got to get with the times... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      heh they could pull a ponies on a regular day, that would alert you

  18. "For many of them..." by sdguero · · Score: 1

    If facebook/twitter are your "primary communication tools" you probably don't have anything important to communicate. Wait, I think I'm onto something...

  19. Sounds great! by BitHive · · Score: 1

    The more noise sources that move into the social networking sphere, the easier it is for me to filter all that shit out of my existence.

    1. Re:Sounds great! by BeanThere · · Score: 1

      Well done then. "I don't even use Facebook" is the new "I don't even own a TV".

  20. w/e by Baseclass · · Score: 2

    Sounds like they're gearing up for yet another fear mongering campaign given the fact that the fear of terrorism has all but evaporated in the general populous.

    --
    ^^vv<><>BA
    1. Re:w/e by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In that case, they ought to take down some more buildings quick, before the fear evaporates altogether. Maybe they will replace Napolitano with Larry Silverstein?

  21. 'That means it's a great way to get information to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    'That means it's a great way to get information to a massive number of people. Maybe the best.'"

    Also means it's great way to get PROPAGANDA to a massive number of people. Likely the best....

  22. Terror alerts via social notworking. by tqk · · Score: 1

    News for nerds, Stuff that matters.

    When they learn about smoke signals, will we get a post about that too? Probably.

    --
    "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
  23. Oh Yeah, Spread the fear, spread the fear... by FriendlyLurker · · Score: 3, Insightful

    but what is the alert useful for other than having a scared, paranoid population?

    That is exactly what it is useful for.

    1. Re:Oh Yeah, Spread the fear, spread the fear... by houghi · · Score: 1

      In Soviet Russia, the government is afraid of you.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  24. Sue for Opportunity Cost? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Someone should sue the US Government for wasting their time. I'm serious.

  25. For your own security - Next up : by unity100 · · Score: 1

    "Grope-a-ball' up app from TSA - a game where designated agents can grope your virtual 'assets' ....

    --
    Read radical news here
  26. worried... by Titan1080 · · Score: 1

    This has me concerned that I may someday be labeled a terrrorist because I refuse to use any social networking sites.

  27. Sky writing by blair1q · · Score: 1

    They should just send up biplanes to write the current terror alert status in the sky.

    It'd save a lot of bandwidth. And put already-paid-for biplanes into use.

  28. Really? Another Facebook crApplication? by DaRanged · · Score: 1

    Just another thing for a Greasemonkey script or FB Purity to block/hide from view...

    Move along... nothing to see... resume normality. :)

  29. The US Govt just wants you to "like" them by WarpedCore · · Score: 1

    by clicking the "like" button under "CODE RED: TERRORISTS STRIKE".

  30. Wow! That's shocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "US May Issue Terror Alerts On Facebook, Twitter"

    So Facebook and Twitter are terrorist organizations?

  31. More proof that the war on terror is bogus by wealthychef · · Score: 1

    If we were really at war, could they really survive spending months designing an alert system?

    --
    Currently hooked on AMP
  32. Click "Like" for this Bin Laden Alert by zardozap · · Score: 0

    Seriously? Give me a break.

  33. 1984 by rubycodez · · Score: 1

    Great, now we can have the national Two Minute Hate.

    Just when I thought we had run out of things to emulate to a "T" in 1984, the fascist jackwads in our federal government pull something else out of their bungholes.

  34. United States of America is by makubesu · · Score: 1

    issuing a level red terror alert. 104,225 people like this.

  35. Anyone else misinterpret the title? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I read the title and I thought it was saying the US was issuing alerts that facebook and twitter were involved in terrorism. This made perfect sense to me.

  36. Hasn't this been described before? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Beware of unintended consequences. This is all sounding a bit too Rad Bradbury. How long before citizens are running around with their cellphone's tracking govt. declared criminals? How long before this becomes the latest reality tv entertainment?

  37. New color code by countertrolling · · Score: 1

    Low level is plaid
    then snot green,
    baby shit yellow,
    johansson scarlett, (the rumors are flying)
    at the top... 'oh, it's paisley!'

    --
    For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
  38. FB Alert by diggsIt · · Score: 1

    Shouldn't the government be alerting people ABOUT facebook.

    --
    Miles Ran the Voodoo Down
  39. Blocked Facebook Applications by bmo · · Score: 2

    Let me get this straight, I choose not to pay attention to these "terror" alerts because they serve absolutely no function whatsoever except to keep people afraid, and now they want to shove it in my face on the interbutt?

    Uh

    No. That particular Facebook app is getting blocked the instant it shows up. I don't care what you're trying to alert me to. Even if there's a valid threat, there is fuck-all I can do about it. I lived through the fucking cold war and EBS was just as useless. If the nukes were coming, it was just a warning that you had 15 minutes to say goodbye to everyone.

    Let's evaluate the ways "terrorists" can kill me:

    The worst that can happen now is someone can fly a plane into a building, which isn't going to happen because the passengers are going to kill the terrorists before it happens - the old rules of "be quiet, sit down, and this will all be over peacefully" are gone.

    Radiological bombs made from a bazillion fire extinguishers are a joke and a bad movie plot.

    Biological weapons are difficult and require more degrees than a thermometer factory to build the equipment.

    Chemical weapons are slightly less difficult to make, but are more likely to kill the terrorists in amusingly Darwinian displays of incompetence.

    Ordinary bombs are a dime a dozen and they only do localized damage, and with everyone watching purchases of Ammonium Nitrate, another Oklahoma City is not going to happen.

    "Poisoning the water supply" does not meaning throwing a bag of chemicals in a reservoir. It requires driving tanker trucks up to water treatment plants, hooking them up, and doing the dirty deed. It's ridiculously infeasible. This will also last about 10 seconds before someone calls 911.

    And all this to be successful requires people competent enough to pull it off. As we have seen, the vast majority of suicidal terrorists are pretty dumb. This is because anyone remotely intelligent says to his/her "commander" "you want me to do what?"

    Now listen to me, you benighted mockers! We're going to teach you soldiering, The world's noblest profession! When we're done with you, you'll be able to stand up and slaughter your foes like civilized men! But first, you will have to learn to march in step. And do the manual of arms without even having to think! Good soldiers don't think, they just obey! Do you suppose that if a man thought twice, he'd give his life for Queen and Country? Not bloody likely! He wouldn't go near the battlefield! One look at your foolish faces tells me that you're going to be crack troops. Ohhh him there with the five-and-a-half hat size has the makings of a bloody hero!

    - Daniel Dravot

    End rant.

    Why the rant: Because the TSA is tits-on-a-bull useless and we've got idiots in the House who want to tie dozens of wedge issues to the fucking budget which don't even come close to trimming it and are thus shutting down the government through invented controversy. Fuck you guys. Fuck you.

    --
    BMO

    1. Re:Blocked Facebook Applications by Hultis · · Score: 0

      That particular Facebook app is getting blocked the instant it shows up. I don't care what you're trying to alert me to.

      Do you really think Facebook will let you do that? It would after all be "jeopardizing national safety", not to mention that the government could offer some pretty nice tax incentives to Zuckerberg who, given his amazing track record, is unlikely to reject that offer.

      </tinfoil hat>

    2. Re:Blocked Facebook Applications by bmo · · Score: 1

      Probably. I thought of that as I was typing, but I had to get my vent out.

      It's depressing.

      --
      BMO

  40. I understand they have one obstacle left... by tlambert · · Score: 1

    I understand they have one obstacle left...

    How to hide the resulting concrete numbers about how many people actually give a rats ass about them or their terror alerts.

    -- Terry

  41. Remember, stay afraid. by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

    At all times must Citizens be afraid.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  42. Color coded system by kramerd · · Score: 1

    It makes no sense to have a color-coded terror alert system when after naming a color, you then have to explain what the color means.

    Just use a 10 point scale, and if it hits 7, shut down the airports. If it hits 9, we are actually in progress of having major cities under attack. Not complicated, not difficult to understand, doesn't help terrorists to know what it is.

  43. Critical choke points? by plopez · · Score: 1

    I posted something like this before. My question is, "is twitter and FB becoming critical choke points due to the amount of important information they are now carrying?"

    Let's look at it. They are used not only for personal information but also by commerce, government, political parties, activist groups, whistle blowers, and now for national defense.

    What happens if this reliance increases and they are attacked. Would it harm the economy, influence elections, and compromise national defense? And can we trust FB and twitter to be impartial and focused on keeping things running smoothly? Can they be trusted to not manipulate the information to their own ends?

    I think the situation is getting scary. What do you think?

    --
    putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
  44. Peas porridge in the pot, nine days old by drdrgivemethenews · · Score: 1

    Given they have to notify all the federal, state and local authorities before FB and Tweety, I guess that means we'll get the news several days after the event.

    -------

    Threat levels are always orange, even on Pandora

  45. genuine native americans offer joy alerts on earth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    there can be only one? chosen? for what? to invent hymens (to make the monkeys jealous)? what a break for us? time for another genocide? pageant? we only need two levels of terror? cool. 1. might live? 2. probably die? that takes care of that. god is continuing to have problems helping the chosen ones holycost profitseize come true (are queers still queer)? it says in the book we must suffer & die, as only the unchosen know how to do. good thing it's poorly written fiction, & the real novel(ty) of us is only hidden (-1) by manufactured fear? so that's good.

  46. +1 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like

  47. I don't understand by Khashishi · · Score: 1

    Why doesn't the government simply get the major United States ISPs to redirect to a special warning site? That way, it would work for anyone not using Facebook.

    1. Re:I don't understand by UBfusion · · Score: 1

      While your idea looks interesting, in fact it's the equivalent of an internet kill switch: Imagine you are browsing a news site and all of a sudden you get redirected to a warning site. All alternatives you might try to find more information about the "threat" would also redirect to the same warning site, so in effect you'd be blind and receiving information/updates only at a need-to-know basis. Would you like that?

  48. I was thinking more like... by FFOMelchior · · Score: 1

    Terror Alert: Congress has just been destroyed by a terrorist attack.

    300,000,000 people like this.

  49. thumbs up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I like this.

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  51. Punctuation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    U.S. is spelled with two periods, like in the original submission title.

  52. It will go wrong when people are penalized by Burz · · Score: 1

    ...for not being a friend or follower of Big Brother.

  53. What?! They can't Slashdot it? by JThaddeus · · Score: 1

    They should really tell us geeks first. After all, the administration wants folks to get interested in math, science, and engineering. And who better to rebuild a society but those with the brains.

    --
    "Love is a familiar; Love is a devil: there is no evil angel but Love." --William Shakespeare ('Love's Labors Lost')
  54. Only Facebook and Twitter? by Compaqt · · Score: 1

    What about identi.ca ?

    Don't geeks deserve to notified of tsunamis?

    --
    I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
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  56. End Game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They sure are pulling out al the stops to keep you lot properly terrified and under control. Their end game mayt be just around the corner.

  57. Like by formfeed · · Score: 1

    Now, can I friend The Man ?

  58. Like what ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, OK, but I am not going to click on "Like Homeland Security" or "be friends" with "Janet Napolitano" !