TOPICS
TOPICS
Senate panel votes to require agency reports on data mining
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee this week approved language that would require federal agencies to report to Congress on their use and development of data-mining technologies.
The language, approved unanimously, is based on legislation, S. 236, co-authored by Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H. He used the bill language for an amendment to a bill, S. 4, that would implement recommendations of the commission that investigated the 2001 terrorist attacks.
"There is a sharp distinction between the federal government looking at digital records of terrorists and other criminals, and those of law-abiding citizens," Sununu said in a statement. "Congress has a responsibility to ensure that this technology, which can analyze vast quantities of data, does not unintentionally infringe on Americans' personal privacy."
The bill now awaits a vote by the full Senate.
COMMENTS
- I now request a story/response with a more definitive breakdown of exactly what data is to be mined. Perhaps that information would allow us readers (and voters) to more precisely evaluate the impact on our lives and weigh our feelings on that compilation. Does the government wish to gather information on all credit card transactions? At a minimum I know they wish to track sales of nitrogen based fertilizers and fuel, and all the home improvement store (like Home Depot) and gas stations (like Kroger) have extensive data gathered on their customers. Do they wish to know all bank balances, withdrawals, and transfers on monies, or just those to and from whomever they is currently on their “watch” list? How far do their capture, store, and search capabilities reach on internet activity? Phones? Cell phones? Do they intend to gather all motel and hotel, airplane, train, and bus reservations as has happened in the past; in effect tracking John Q. Public’s movements? We already know their intent as to electronic passport movement across borders. Just how invasive does “Big Brother” intend to be? Perhaps the reality of this ambitious omnipotence will help us common folk judge the necessity of its being. As always, with government, it becomes a matter of degrees. Just how far is too far? I realized that it’s still a safety and security versus freedom issue. And yet I worry of the loss of the very basis of our culture, freedom from an overreaching governmental oppression. Tip off GovExec.com reader Posted February 26, 2007 8:46 AM
- I can hear it now, can't you? How will we know which "Joe Smith" is the terrorist if we don't look at all of them? And of course we'll have to look at his wife (and all the other Mary Smiths) and the rest of his family? Otherwise how will we know we've got the right Joe Smith? In the land of the free, freedom is getting harder and harder to come by. Michelle Posted February 20, 2007 1:12 PM
