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DHS Creating Database of Secret Watchlists

Posted by Soulskill on from the veracity-is-optional dept.

schwit1 writes "Homeland Security plans to operate a massive new database of names, photos, birthdays and biometrics called Watchlist Service, duplicated from the FBI's Terrorist Screening Database, which has proven not to be accurate many times in the past. DHS wants to exempt the Watchlist Service from Privacy Act provisions, meaning you will never know if you are wrongfully listed. Privacy groups worried about inaccurate info and mission creep have filed a protest, arguing the Privacy Act says DHS must notify subject of government surveillance. DHS has admitted that it 'does not control the accuracy of the information in system of records' and that 'individuals do not have an opportunity to decline to provide information.' Additionally, the DHS Watchlist Service attempts to circumvent privacy protections established by the Privacy Act. Who's watching the watchers?"

13 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. on the plus side by Trepidity · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We'll probably eventually find out who's on it when all our personal info ends up leaked on a torrent somewhere.

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  2. we need to dissolve DHS by Lead+Butthead · · Score: 5, Insightful

    DHS has failed to make the country safer; if anything it made it easier for government to abuse the citizens.

    --
    ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
    1. Re:we need to dissolve DHS by TWX · · Score: 5, Interesting

      They could have named it the Ministry of Love...

      At this point, Department of War would probably be more accurate than Department of Defense. We haven't been overwhelmingly defensive in about a decade now.

      If Homeland Security wanted to really do it right, they should actually screen all incoming cargo and use tariffs on that incoming cargo to pay for cost of the screening. That in turn would make the goods coming in more expensive, which might make domestic options more profitable for consumers, which might also help us retain our manufacturing base.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    2. Re:we need to dissolve DHS by TWX · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Until September 11, 2001, cooperating with a hijacking generally resulted in everyone on a plane surviving and being released in hours or a day. It was a moderate inconvenience. Also, generally terrorist attacks, be they bombings like in Oklahoma City, the original World Trade Center basement parking garage attacks, church bombings, or the killing of doctors resulted in small scale hurt that didn't cascade us into financial ruin.

      If anything, the odds of dying in a terrorist attack are so remote in a given year that things really haven't changed. Mundane reasons for death, like car accidents, medical problems, even run-of-the-mill personal homicide massively dwarf terrorism. Additionally, anyone who attempts to hijack a plane is as good as dead, as the passengers will kill them if they can't apprehend them. That pretty much just leaves bombers like Richard Reid or the underwear bomber. Work on ways to detect the components of explosives like these people tried to use that detect in non-invasive ways, and stop confiscating nail clippers. Anyone who could take over a plane with a set of nail clippers can probably take over a plane without the nail clippers.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    3. Re:we need to dissolve DHS by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Funny

      run-of-the-mill personal homicide massively dwarf terrorism

      Oh god! Now there are MURDEROUS MIDGET TERRORISTS!!! We'll never be able to stop them! All our scanners are for people of normal heights!

  3. Not a new database.... by TimeOut42 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    While I don't like the Terrorist Screening Database operated by the FBI, this story is off the mark by making it sound like DHS is setting up a new list; which they are not. They are looking to improving how they get the information from the TSD. Read the abstract here:

    http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_dhs_wls.pdf

    1. Re:Not a new database.... by Evtim · · Score: 3, Informative

      Hi there! I see you are taking an active interest in this thread and as a fellow former citizen of totalitarian state let me add this:

      Do you remember the "fun" we had when those files were opened after 1989? When it turned out that people have been sent to camps because of a single "whistle-blower" ratting to the police? When we discovered that friends, colleagues, neighbors and even relatives were sending "annonimus" reports to the Secret Service? Wasn't that great!! Neighbor wants to fuck your wife - write a report, get you sent to Gulag, profit!! Colleague is too smart and you feel you deserve that promotion - write a report get him fired or locked away, profit!! You just hate the guy for whatever - write report, get him locked, profit!

      Before the Social Media era, they collected data through opening regular mail, wiretapping the telephones but most importantly spying on people and instigating regular Joes to spy on other regular Joes. Today, I expect the same level of human nastiness - I expect that a secret database will encourage people to rat on others. I fully expect that westerns would not show greater spirit than we did and will gladly use the opportunity to remove inconvenient people. Not to mention just plain mistakes a-la Buttle - Tuttle (sp?)

      My fellow Americans, for your own sake, do not go there!!

    2. Re:Not a new database.... by c0lo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Do you remember the "fun" we had when those files were opened after 1989?

      Yes, I do and I confirm this is how it goes. I can't however stress enough that, as innacurate as they were, they were just accurate enough for their purpose: no matter what, the purpose ends in not being the security of the citizens, but the "security" of a totally screwed up and nightmarish status-quo!

      My fellow Americans, for your own sake, do not go there!!

      By my feeling the correct expression should be: stop going there (before it's too late).

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
  4. Re:I wonder how many times... by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It seems like 1776 had been a wasted effort.

    Rum go, old chap.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  5. Little Bobby Tables? by formfeed · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hopefully they heard of this guy and have him already in their database.
    http://xkcd.com/327/

  6. Re:I wonder how many times... by ArcherB · · Score: 3, Funny

    It seems like 1776 had been a wasted effort.

    Rum go, old chap.

    Your freedom and privacy are secure. All you need to do is register for the DoNotWatchList and they are not allowed to watch you. I hear it's a $10,000 fine if you sign up for the do-not-watch-list and you catch them watching you anyway.

    --
    There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
  7. Re:ethical and above board? by EmagGeek · · Score: 3, Informative

    I just want to know which government supercontractor stands to gain most from it. That is who is behind it.

  8. Re:I wonder how many times... by Totenglocke · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We got to elect our own government

    Eh, partially true. We have no say in who runs in primaries and even then, the party can overrule the decision for who runs for office, then we have a whopping two choices (which are usually 98% the same) for who to vote for. It's pretty much a big con job to provide the masses with a sense of control so that they don't rebel.

    --
    "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson