-Caveat Lector-
Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: September 15, 2007 7:18:56 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Homeland Security Assigning EVERY AMERICAN a "Terrorist
Risk" Rating
ACLU Demands Shutdown of
Unlawful Passenger-Tracking System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/31557prs20070905.html
WASHINGTON – In formal comments filed today with the Department of
Homeland Security, the American Civil Liberties Union demanded that
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shut down its illegal
Automated Targeting System (ATS) program. The program, which
violates a congressional mandate barring DHS from assigning risk
levels to ordinary Americans, uses secret criteria and computer
algorithms to calculate the security risks of ordinary Americans.
"Congress has banned this type of program with good reason: It
rates the potential for terrorism of every traveler and violates
every American’s right to privacy," said Barry Steinhardt, director
of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program. "The judgments about
Americans calculated by ATS will be stored for years, and we have
no idea how they may be used in the future. The benefit to the
government is extremely questionable, but the consequences for
Americans are simply dangerous."
The ACLU has urged the Department of Homeland Security to end the
program since its existence was revealed last November. As part of
the last three DHS appropriations acts, legislators have forbidden
DHS from developing or testing any program that uses algorithms to
calculate the security risks of ordinary Americans whose names are
not on watch lists. ATS ranks citizens using unknown but inevitably
imprecise algorithms and draws from databases with known errors.
Even security officials, including the Secure Flight Working Group,
have said they cannot determine who will be a threat from the
characteristics ATS uses.
"No government has the right to say to law abiding citizens:
‘Sorry, we can’t let you travel freely, but we can’t tell you why
because it’s secret’ – especially in America," said ACLU Senior
Legislative Counsel Tim Sparapani. "ATS isn’t just a flawed program
– it’s an illegal one. Secret algorithms and bureaucratic black
magic are not the answer to national security problems."
The program was approved without public or congressional
consideration, despite Congress’s ban on these types of tracking
systems used for people. The government tracked cargo using a
similar system, but it has never been given congressional approval
to track people as cargo has been tracked. The ACLU filed its
formal comments on ATS in response to a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking published on August 6 in the Federal Register.
"In spite of broad public outcry, the substance and most of the
details of the program remain the same – including its most
objectionable elements," said the ACLU in its comments to DHS. "The
Department of Homeland Security must curb the excesses of ATS and
end its continuing and illegal efforts to categorize innocent
travelers as security risks based on computer analysis. If DHS is
unwilling to act Congress should take further action to end ATS and
protect the privacy of travelers."
The full version of the ACLU's comments to the Department of
Homeland Security about ATS can be found at:
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/31556lgl20070905.html
See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.
www.ctrl.org
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/
<A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
