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US Intelligence Officials To Monitor Federal Employees With Security Clearances

Posted by samzenpus on from the watching-the-watchers dept.

First time accepted submitter Trachman writes in with news about a monitoring program designed to help stop future leaks of government documents. "U.S. intelligence officials are planning a sweeping system of electronic monitoring that would tap into government, financial and other databases to scan the behavior of many of the 5 million federal employees with secret clearances, current and former officials told The Associated Press. The system is intended to identify rogue agents, corrupt officials and leakers, and draws on a Defense Department model under development for more than a decade, according to officials and documents reviewed by the AP."

8 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. One would hope by colin_faber · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can't imagine why they wouldn't monitor people with access to secret clearances. I know they polygraph them all the time and regularly perform spot checks for law enforcement violations, etc.

    Don't want the government knowing everything about you? Don't request secret clearance from it.

  2. So much... by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...for posting on Slashdot during work hours for many.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  3. 1984 Cascade by xdor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But who monitors the monitors?

  4. Whistle blowers by frnic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The best way to prevent leaks like those that have happened lately is to have a REAL, RESPONSIVE, FUNCTIONAL whistle blower program so people do not have to take the law into their own hands.

  5. Yo dawg! by Subm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yo dawg! I heard you liked monitoring people so we got some monitoring people to monitor your monitoring people so you can monitor your monitoring people while you monitor people!

    Yo dawg! I heard you like policing your state so we got you some police to police your police so you can police your police while you police your state!

  6. Re:Fourth Amendment by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is it not more unreasonable that we have five million people (out of a total of just under 320 million, with labor force size ~155 million, unknown percentage of that with characteristics that make them getting a clearance rather unlikely) involved in Super Secret Uncle Sam Stuff?
    br> I'm less interested in crying for the poor, poor, clearanceholders and more interested in why a touch over three percent of the US labor force spends its time pushing classified paper.

  7. Bullshit by AF_Cheddar_Head · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Civil rights never go out the window. As a cleared government employee I have not waived my civil rights and would never do so. I have agreed to allow some intrusive inspection of my life but I still have and will always have my civil rights.

    Idiots like you who think that national security trumps all are what is wrong with today's national security infrastructure.

    1. Re:Bullshit by AF_Cheddar_Head · · Score: 5, Informative

      I have not waived my right against unreasonable search and seizure, even with my clearance the US Government has the same warrant requirements to come into my home as they have for the general public. The intrusiveness that I have agreed to is the following: periodic re-investigations where they may or may not interview my associates and family members as to my trustworthiness, the possibility of submitting to a non-lifestyle polygraph because of clearance type, having to report contact with foreign nationals (depending on the type of contact), and informing the security manager if I plan on traveling out of the country.

      Not unreasonable search and seizure and a fairly well defined set of requirements for reporting.