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2 Million-Person Terror Database Leaked Online (thestack.com)
An anonymous reader writes from a report via The Stack: A 2014 version of the World-Check database containing more than 2.2 million records of people with suspected terrorist, organized crime, and corruption links has been leaked online. The World-Check database is administered by Thomson-Reuters and is used by 4,500 institutions, 49 of the world's 50 largest banks and by over 300 government and intelligence agencies. The unregulated database is intended for use as "an early warning system for hidden risk" and combines records from hundreds of terror and crime suspects and watch-lists into a searchable resource. Most of the individuals in the database are unlikely to know that they are included, even though it may have a negative impact on their ability to use banking services and operate a business. A Reddit user named Chris Vickery says he obtained a copy of the database, saying he won't reveal how until "a later time." To access the database, customers must pay an annual subscription charge, that can reach up to $1 million, according to Vice, with potential subscribers then vetted before approval. Vickery says he understands that the "original location of the leak is still exposed to the public internet" and that "Thomas Reuters is working feverishly to get it secured." He told The Register that he alerted the company to the leak, but is still considering whether to publish the information contained in it.
It is illegal in the United States to use race or religion as a factor when deciding who can get loans, who can open accounts, who can fly on planes, and so on. This list is generated using black box sources and methods which could very well make use of race or religion as a factor. One can certainly argue the merits of profiling (much of the rest of the world sees it as beneficial), but in the United States these metrics are illegal to consider, and in some cases, even collect. Without a bit more transparency into this list, it may very well be illegal for any of these governmental organizations or private companies operating within the United States to make use of this list in determining *any* of the aforementioned activities, hence the need for transparency and due process.
You can bet that the current version of the db contains 2 million and one names on that last. I doubt Mr. Vickery will be getting on a plane anytime soon, plus he's got that IRS audit coming up too. Oh, and his FICO number is now 30.
Then what is the due process for the USA's "terrorist watchlist"?? Thinking there is any due process for ANY of these types of list is a fantasy.
And the answer is: No due process As an aside, I find it incredible that the LGBT community constantly votes for Democrat politicians that scream for secret lists that can be used to take away constitutional rights. My god, if any group should fear that, it should be the LGBT community.Let's do away with civil rights
Peace is easy to achieve, just surrender. Liberty is much harder get/keep.
To be honest, the LGBT community is starting to wake up to the fact that the hodgepodge amalgamation of "united" interests that forms the Democratic/Progressive movement may not actually suit their interests. In the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, the "progressive" anti-gun bits of the LGBT community pretty much disappeared.
My suggestion for the LGBT community is to look at the Libertarian Party, which views rights not as only for specific"Groups" but as absolutes for individuals.
I suspect that LGBT people will someday realize that Progressive politics hasn't and isn't suiting their real interests.
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
If you had two brain cells to rub together you would understand that in international affairs, a country, or "power" that has the ability to maintain or increase its sphere of influence, will always do so. Would you prefer a power vacuum filled by some other power besides the US? Think about that.
The government of the USA does that, as does any other government that has that ability.
Sure, you can put moral judgements on what the US has done, but if you do, please add every other government or "power" that has done the same, such as Russia, the USSR, Germany, Japan, China, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Aztecs, etc, etc
And no, I'm in no way apologizing for any of the "bad things" the US has done, and continues to do, but in the grand scheme of history in the last 200 years, the US has been on the right side of things more often than not.
So, to conclude, fuck the right off.
We play the game with the bravery of being out of range