FBI Takes 7 Months To Decide That Useless Computer System Should Be Scrapped

from the quick-responses dept

Back in May, we noted that the FBI's brand-spanking-new $600 million computer system was useless in fighting terrorism. It was designed without thinking that terrorism might be the main focus of the agency, and apparently, no one thought that any computer system they built should be flexible enough to change as the FBI changed. Also, for some reason, between September of 2001 and May of 2004, no one decided to look at what they were building and see if it made sense. Instead, they kept writing larger and larger checks. Well, since that announcement back in May, it sounds like the FBI has been scratching their collective heads and wondering if maybe, just maybe, the system was useful for something. It turns out the answer is: no. The FBI is now likely to completely ditch the system and start from scratch next spring -- at which time they'll start spending on a new system, that probably won't be delivered for a few years, and (yes, of course) will likely be obsolete and useless by the time it's implemented as well. Our tax dollars at work.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    dorpus, 13 Jan 2005 @ 2:47pm

    False Flag

    If the FBI had a really awesome computer system that could tell you when Mike went to the bathroom last time, do you think they'd tell you about it? No, they'll publicly announce a fiasco, to let their adversaries underestimate them.

    Unofficially, the FBI makes billions of dollars from drug money seizures. Official government budgets for the FBI are really so the FBI doesn't have to depend on asset seizures too much.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      No one important, 13 Jan 2005 @ 5:27pm

      Re: False Flag

      Uh no, thats the ATF that busts the druggies. I never have understood why the government can keep monies in banks when they bust them, but if it's in cash, they have to burn it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        dorpus, 13 Jan 2005 @ 5:40pm

        Re: False Flag

        Drug dealers tend to be involved in plenty of other crimes, so the FBI, DEA, and ATF often find each other working on the same cases. They'll cooperate in the big cases, but in smaller cases, it's every-man-for-himself.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Jan 2005 @ 11:34am

          Re: False Flag


          ONLY SEVEN MONTHS ? ! ? !

          God, someone down in DC must be on speed ... thats a hell of a lot faster than most of their decisions.

          link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.