Re: [privacy] U.S. Government Mining Banking Data in Anti-Terror Effort

["Rob, grandpa of Ryan, Trevor, Devon & Hannah" <rMslade () shaw ca>]

From:                   "Fergie" <fergdawg () netzero net>
Date sent:              Fri, 23 Jun 2006 01:31:43 GMT

> The U.S. government, without the knowledge of many banks and their
> customers, has engaged for years in a secret effort to track terrorist
> financing by reviewing confidential information on transfers of money
> between banks worldwide.

a) One would generally have more sympathy for these efforts if they actually 
produced anything.

b) Why do "security theatre" but not tell anybody about it?  (If personal privacy is 
violated, but nobody ever finds out about it, are politicians still slimy scum?)

c) How about some reciprocal transparency?  
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TERRORIST_FINANCING_NEWSPAPER
S?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

> The program, run by the Treasury Department, is considered a potent
> weapon in the war on terrorism because of its ability to clandestinely
> monitor financial transactions and map terrorist webs.
>
> Current and former officials at multiple U.S. agencies acknowledged the
> program's existence, but spoke on condition of anonymity, citing its
> sensitive nature. "We're very, very protective of it," said a senior
> U.S. official familiar with the program. "It is extremely valuable."
>
> The program is part of an arsenal of aggressive measures the government
> has adopted since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that yield new
> intelligence, but also circumvent traditional safeguards against abuse
> and raise concerns about intrusions on privacy.
>
> [snip]
>
> More here:
> http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-swift23jun23,0,6482687.stor
> y
>
> - ferg
>
>
> --
> "Fergie", a.k.a. Paul Ferguson
>  Engineering Architecture for the Internet
>  fergdawg () netzero net or fergdawg () sbcglobal net
>  ferg's tech blog: http://fergdawg.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
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> privacy () whitestar linuxbox org
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