FBI Data Mining For More Than Just Terrorists

**TimSchroeder** · 07-13-2007, 12:50 AM

jcatcw writes "Computerworld reports that the FBI is using data mining programs to track more than just terrorists. The program's original focus was to identify potential terrorists, but additional patterns have been developed for identity theft rings, fraudulent housing transactions, Internet pharmacy fraud, automobile insurance fraud, and health-care-related fraud. From the article: 'In a statement, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the report [on the data mining] was four months late and raised more questions than it answered. The report "demonstrates just how dramatically the Bush administration has expanded the use of [data mining] technology, often in secret, to collect and sift through Americans' most sensitive personal information," he said. At the same time, the report provides an "important and all-too-rare ray of sunshine on the department's data mining activities," Leahy said. It would give Congress a way to conduct "meaningful oversight" he said.'"Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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**seolman** · 07-13-2007, 02:07 AM

Interesting news but kind of creepy. I'm always concerned about over-zealous government officials with too much information to play with...

**vangogh** · 07-13-2007, 02:19 AM

I think those were people's fears when all the data mining first began. Terrorism was used to gain acceptance of the program, but it was always about more.

**Michel Samuel** · 07-13-2007, 02:38 AM

Now there you guys go making me see conspiracy theorys about my alexa bot problem.

**vangogh** · 07-13-2007, 03:00 AM

Funny Michel. I should have known you'd find this post. Or maybe this post found you. I think it's a forum conspiracy.

**ForrestCroce** · 07-13-2007, 03:06 AM

Federal marshals have been going on sweeps, arresting a thousand fugitives in a week, every few months. Or at least this is what a friend tells me. If true, and frankly I have better things to do than research rumors, but that could only be from data mining huge data stores. It's pretty hard to argue that violent criminals should be allowed to run around holding gas stations up because people should wear blinders, but it's also worrying just how much data is collected about us.

It's not really the collection that bothers me ... the NY Times ran an article about Walmart mining their data and learning they need to stock up on alcohol before a storm, and not just batteries, candles, and flashlights. We give the grocery store and bank our purchasing history. The real problem is how it gets sold out and amassed. Instead of islands of data, large parts of your life story are recorded in the computer.

Not the end of the world, and nobody is being arrested for buying conspiracy books. But it's something that just sort of happened over time, without anybody really having any kind of debate about whether it's a good thing. Identity theft and spam are the major costs we pay directly ... we being people who aren't doing anything wrong.

**vangogh** · 07-13-2007, 03:24 AM

I think the fears in regards to the government mining data is that it's all a little more secretive too. And governments have the power to amass more data than anyone. I also think our government isn't always as responsible as it should or could be in regards to it's interpretation of the data.

There are certainly two sides to the issue. Whether we like it or not we are living in a datacentric world. The most successful business in the years ahead are going to be those with the data. There's so much you can do with it and I don't mean selling it outright.

Take the search engines. They're collecting as much as they can and they're all going to tell us it's to make search better for us. Perhaps to some degree it will be. But what will also happen is they'll know you better and know what products you're more likely to purchase and know what ad to show you.

You may be reading a site about how to take a better picture, but a search engine will know through the data it has on you that you're planning a trip to Maui and it will start delivering ads for hotels and airlines and car rentals, etc.

When companies have the data we figure they want to use it to make more money. When the government has it we worry they want to throw us in a detention center because they mistakenly believe we've done something or know something or might do or know something in the future.

**Michel Samuel** · 07-13-2007, 05:06 AM

No one is going to argue the need to keep crime down.
But as I have often put it, "If you live in a free society you are going to have to tolerate some crime. Otherwise you will have a police state.

Not trying to be the ignorant francophone but this is one the reasons I don't like visiting England. To see the difference between a society (that I believe to be) slowly exchanging its liberties for security... You only have to walk into any French train station.

France is most likely the #1 train using nation in Europe. Trains going to Italy, Belgium, Neatherland, Germany, Switzerland, etc.. leave from Paris almost every hour. To board all you have to do is validate your ticket from the automated machine and walk on. In fact if your late you can just board the train and pay the conducter when he comes around.

Needless to say that all of these destinations and train services are open and easy access. Security is almost non-existent.

But only with the Eurostar (The service to england) are things different. Where their train boards there is a huge section squared off behind 6cm thick glass. Not only do you have the company officials there but there are guards and everyone is inspecting the passportes. Plus there are survalience cameras placed all around their section.

I call it the nibble theory...
We just let the people who claim they are looking after us take millions of little bites out of us. But eventually, one day, we wake up and discouver that they snacked on us all night long and now there is nothing left.

Or to state it differently...
I like my hotdogs to be all beef topped with chilly sauce, onions and saurkraut. Even if it is better for me, I don't want to be forced to eat the plain tofu hotdog on whole grain bread.

My hotdog gives me nasty heartburn... but **** it tastes good going down.

In conclusion we can let all these people do all these things they say are there to protect us.
And I am sure one day we will all feel safe and secure....
But none of us will be free and will life really be worth living.