Government Considers Dissatisfaction With US Policies To Be A 'High Threat'

from the looks-like-someone's-going-to-spend-some-time-at-the-Ministry-of-Love! dept

Thu, Aug 8th 2013 8:56am — Tim Cushing

The administration's "Insider Threat" program was discussed here a few weeks ago. Apparently, the government has been running dangerously low on whistleblowers to prosecute and now is seeking help from its employees in identifying "threats" to the government -- some of which may be no more than a cubicle away.

The national "spy on your neighbor" program (See Something, Say Something) has now been internalized by the government, which openly encourages its employees to view their co-workers with suspicion. Leaks = "aiding the enemy," according to official documents and one can't be too careful in this post-Snowden climate of forced transparency.

To that end, the government has introduced a couple of training modules/interactive games aimed at heightening suspicion levels in federal offices. There are two versions: one for the Dept. of Defense and one for regular "federal employees." You score points by following the rules and outing co-workers whose behavior indicates they might up and tear the country a new one by blowing whistles.

According to the interactive ~~brainwasher~~ CyberAwareness Challenge, these are some of the prime indicators that a co-worker is prone to rampant acts of insider threatening.

A security training test created by a Defense Department agency warns federal workers that they should consider the hypothetical Indian-American woman a "high threat" because she frequently visits family abroad, has money troubles and "speaks openly of unhappiness with U.S. foreign policy."

Yes. It's true. An inherently untrustworthy foreigner has made things worse on herself by exercising her First Amendment rights and openly having her vehicle repossessed. A good citizen loves our country's thousands of rules and policies and pays their bills on time -- no exceptions.

And who in their right, non-threatening mind would want to leave the country once, much less several times? Seriously. The hassle at the airports alone would seem to be enough to deter a non-Caucasian from making more than one trip abroad.

While this example may seem stupid at best and borderline racist at worst, a spokesman for the Pentagon defended the program's virtues in a statement to Huffington Post.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Damien Pickart said, "DISA was sensitive to any civil liberty concerns that might arise from any portion of the curriculum, which is why it coordinated with 26 federal agencies to ensure the maximum amount of input was received before going live."

"When considering personnel for a position of trust that requires a security clearance, there are many potential indicators that must be considered when evaluating for insider threat concerns," he explained. "The department takes these variables into consideration based on past examples of personnel who engaged in spying or treasonous acts."

Several million people across the federal government have taken the training since it was released, Pickart said, and there has been only one complaint...

Anyone familiar with government work knows that increasing the number of agencies involved has very little bearing on overall quality of output. In fact, it's more frequently noted that the quality is inversely proportionate to the number of bureaucrats involved.

And as for there being only one complaint? Well, holy shit, what did you expect? The program itself makes the none-too-subtle point that complaining about the government is a great way to end up with the word "Snowden" taped surreptitiously to your back by your newly trained co-workers.

Now, if you're truly curious, you can attempt to play the interactive CyberAwareness Challenge. Chrome users are somewhat discouraged from making the attempt. My personal experience boiled down to a lot of load time broken up by occasional "challenges" and questions that had all the depth and nuance of a Dora the Explorer episode.

The challenge level may go up the further you proceed in the game, but I can't offer any insight on that. The load times are so long, it's tough to believe you'll have a chance to round up any "insider threats" before they've boarded the next plane to Moscow. Or retired.

All hyperbole aside, this training program won't do much to find insider threats, who are likely not nearly as easy to identify as the rather spurious list of "indicators" would have federal employees believe. And the last thing the government should be doing is incubating the idea that exposing government wrongdoing is only a step or two removed from actual terrorism. Attempting to weed out "dissent" by turning government employees against each other is only going to foster more of the behavior these agencies are trying to stamp out.

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

Filed Under: free speech, government, threats, whistleblowers

72 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:08am

Orwell's book was [i]not[/i] supposed to be a Government For Dummies training guide.

Obama, you're doing it wrong.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:42am
  
  Re:
  Machiavelli's book wasn't supposed to be a Government For Dummies training guide either, and look how that ended up.
  
  As a species, we just can't get enough copies of "Tin-Plated Dictatorship For Beginners". Some days human nature just depresses me.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - sehlat (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:18pm
    
    Re: Re:
    What does human nature do on the bad days?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Rob, 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:28pm
    
    Re: Re:
    As a species, we just can't get enough copies of "Tin-Plated Dictatorship For Beginners". Some days human nature just depresses me.
    
    Excuse me, I've got a bestseller to write!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Zakida Paul (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:12am

I consider US foreign policy to be a high threat.

Hello NSA, suck my plums.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
crade (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:12am

So does that mean they are going to start tracking elections and anyone who votes for change is a threat?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:36am
  
  Re:
  You don't get to vote for SIGNIFICANT change. All you'll ever get is a new Robama to choose
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=94zRy9zcUDI&t=6
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - PRMan, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:33am
    
    Re: Re:
    Didn't you notice in the last election that even when Ron Paul came in a very close second in a debate (above Rick Perry and Mitt Romney), the media didn't even mention him?
    
    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61412.html
    
    You'll never hear about change even if it's out there because the media is part of the machine.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - John Fenderson (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:39am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      I don't know... I heard a LOT about Ron Paul during that election cycle.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 9 Aug 2013 @ 4:21am
  
  Re:
  Haha. Silly rabbit. Change is for kids.
  
  There are no changes allowed in American elections. Only the marketing of change is allowed.
  
  All candidates will be bought and paid for by corporate interests before they are placed on the ballot.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Overlords of the New World Order
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:13am

Actual have money problem does probably make a person a higher risk as they are more likely to take money for payment and if they are disenfranchised with politicly it makes then less likely to care about there commitment to keep stuff that should stay secret, secret.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Richard (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:26am
  
  Re:
  Actual have money problem does probably make a person a higher risk as they are more likely to take money for payment
  
  Which could be better addressed by making financial advice services available to employees.
  
  and if they are disenfranchised with politicly it makes then less likely to care about there commitment to keep stuff that should stay secret, secret.
  
  I presume you meant "disenchanted".
  
  Being disenchanted probably means you think more about politics than the uncritical person - and therefore you probably have a better idea about what really needs to be secret and what doesn't
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Starke (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:14am
  
  Re:
  Yeah, although it sounds racist, this specific profile does have a few warning signs.
  
  Basically, they're spending a lot of money on international travel, while not having enough to pay the bills...
  
  Thing is, this is getting cross threaded with the whole ideology element. Past experience is, you need one OR the other to turn someone, not both. And, when I say "turn", I really mean a coordinated intelligence agency, not, you know, "terrerusts!"
  
  Of course, the whole thing is made worse by the fact that we know, in this day and age, all bank seizures of property are legal, right guys?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Rikuo (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:32am
    
    Re: Re:
    Except you have to allow for the possibility of maybe the Indian woman placed a higher value on her family in India than on her car, so decided that the loss of the vehicle was acceptable as long as it meant she could fly home to see her loved ones.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - crade (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 11:12am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      It will usually be the parents that are paying for the tickets back to India in my experience.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 9 Aug 2013 @ 2:51am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Valuing loved ones more than material possessions? That's pretty un-American of her. She's probably a communist or al qaida
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:04pm
  
  Response to: Anonymous Coward on Aug 8th, 2013 @ 9:13am
  you mean like taking money for payment? don't judge people because of something as stupid as money
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Transmitte (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:18am

So it begins, in earnest.
The Orwellian hell is afoot. We're(read The Government) is sliding into a sorry state of fascism along with being a hyper police state.

I wonder how long it will be before they start offering prizes for people to rat each other out? Here's your cheese your fucking rat! Now, what have you been up to???
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Zakida Paul (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:26am

In other (UK based) news, David Cameron wants to repeal the Human Rights Act.

http://www.theguardian.com/law/2013/aug/08/david-cameron-human-rights-act?commentpage=3

G overnments all over the place are looking to turn their countries into police states.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Richard (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:28am

Welcome
to the German Democratic Republic!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:33am

Another way to detect people that are "high threats" is to check if they have a turban wrapped around their heads.

It's true, look it up.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:37am
  
  Re:
  But seriously, has America's descent into paranoia reached the stage where you are flagging people based on stereotypes?
  
  There used to be a time where espionage (and counter-espionage) was a proper black art.
  
  Now they've reduced it to guesswork and paranoia. Pathetic.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Starke (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:18am
    
    Re: Re:
    Honestly, looking back at intelligence operations in the Cold War, and for that matter, counterintelligence operations? Yeah, some of the dumbest stuff actually worked, the more sophisticated stuff had a nasty habit of fouling up.
    
    Get a housekeeper in the Soviet embassy to throw out classified documents, and fish them out of the trash? Yeah, that worked for years.
    
    Cultivate a spy network in East Berlin? No dice.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mike-2 Alpha (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:14am
  
  Re:
  You can also find them by tossing them in a body of water. If they float, they can be considered a high threat. Only the innocent sink.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:57am
  
  Re:
  What on Earth does the USG have against Sikhs?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:24pm
  
  Re:
  You mean the turbans like non-muslim Indian Sikhs wear?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - PaulT (profile), 9 Aug 2013 @ 1:12am
    
    Re: Re:
    That's the kind of comment I can never tell whether it's serious or not, but sadly some people really are too stupid to tell the difference. e.g. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/us/shooting-reported-at-temple-in-wisconsin.html?pagewanted=all&am p;_r=0
    
    They also don't understand that "Muslim" isn't a race or that non-religious/Christian people of Arabic descent also exist.
    
    Anyone who thinks they can tell if someone is a terrorist or a Muslim (and no, those are not synonyms) just by looking at them is a complete idiot.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:35am

Several million people across the federal government have taken the training since it was released, Pickart said, and there has been only one complaint...

And that complainant is now in federal custody undergoing re-education training in Room 101.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Josef Anvil (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 11:48am
  
  Re:
  We all know its the Indian woman in the example.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 11:51am
  
  Re:
  Don't joke, it wasn't fun.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:37am

High threats have increased by multitudes since the Snowden revelations.

Now they gonna have to watch everyone... oh wait...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Tell Me, Then Kill Me, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:39am

Version 2
McCarthyism, v.2.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- artp (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:44am
  
  Re: Version 2
  I was wondering when someone would make this connection.
  
  Any nominees for Charlie? I tend to forget names of unpleasant people, so I can't provide any for you. :-(
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Hephaestus (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:01am
    
    Re: Re: Version 2
    It is not really McCarthyism. McCarthyism is a witch hunt where they make accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. This is more like Stasi behavior. Is Stazism a word? If not it should be ...
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Starke (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:20am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Version 2
      I thought McCarthyism was where you found an ambitious, alchoholic, patholigical liar, and then got them to take over a major political movement, just to see what kinds of crazy came crawling out.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - artp (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 7:48pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Version 2
      The first two lines in the Wikipedia entry say:
      
      McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means "the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism.
      
      There seem to be some similarities.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Charlie, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:43am
    
    Re: Re: Version 2
    I may, or may not, take offense to the previous post.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Rob, 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:34pm
    
    Re: Re: Version 2
    Charlie McCarthyism, I could handle. Who doesn't love wise-cracking dummies?
    
    It's the regular McCarthyism that scares me.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - artp (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 7:29pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Version 2
      It has always been hard for me to tell the two apart. ;-)
      
      Now more than ever.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:44am

When considering personnel for a position of trust that requires a security clearance...

...you might as well just use a dartboard. Only ignorant, stupid, vacuous, worthless, utterly idiotic simians think that security clearances have the slightest value. They might as well be printed on toilet paper, because they're exclusively for assholes.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:46am

can this actually be for real? grown men coming out with this sort of crap! it's more like what kids do! there has to be so much paranoia, so much insecurity in the top echelon of the US government to have to come out with something like this, it makes me scared to think of how far things are going to be taken before something snaps and shit really hits fan! for people in the positions that these hold to be so afraid of what could happen that they want to screen every person who could be of foreign birth, why let them settle in the USA to start with?what is more worrying is the countries they are pushing these same ideas and fears to! are there actually any sane people in charge or are they all completely consumed with hysteria?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Chris, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:48am

Money Issues
Money issues have long been considered a risk issue for those with a security clearance. Bouncing checks (as long as one isn't a member of Congress, and note the plural) was one of the fastest ways to get one's clearance revoked when I had mine. Financial worries and disillusionment are indeed factors that should be noted with regards to security clearances (they don't, however, make one a "threat"). Travelling to meet your family semi-annually being seen as a threat factor is, IMO, ridiculous.

WRT Richard, when I was in the USAF 2 decades ago, access to simple financial advice services were available. Making them available does not mean one will necessarily use it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Michael, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:53am

Holy crap!
Do you see that!

She has provided "Adequate work quality"!
She is clearly a lazy-fat-stupid-video game playing-American hater!

The next time I see a co-worker completing their job in an adequate manner...well...never mind, that is pretty unlikely here anyway.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hephaestus (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:56am

The problem is that there are thousands of programs many of which are likely illegal, violate the constitution, or both. The Snowden leaks are probably just the tip of the iceberg.

What the government is trying to do here is twofold. Create a sense of fear among federal workers that they are being watched, and on the off chance, prevent a person from blowing the whistle on something illegal or unconstitutional.

Both of which are extremely stupid. This sort of work environment will create stressors for people, and will more than likely increase the number of people going public on illegal or unconstitutional government actions.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Rikuo (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:00am

Well, I'm out. If I were in the US, I'd be a clear threat. My brother is in Brussels and I'm planning on visiting him soon. I've spoken openly of discontent with US government policies both off and online. I also do a good job at work, very good but not fantastic (couldn't be bothered).
Someone wanna call Oburmur's thugs? Can't be bothered to do it myself. I clearly should be locked up without a trial.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Michael, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:01am

there has been only one complaint

They have since asked the complainer (who did so anonymously, but the NSA knew who it was anyway) a series of questions in the comfort of a facility on an island known for great weather and fine cigars.

During this interview, the complainer retracted their complaint and admitted to terrorist activities and kidnapping the Lindburgh baby.

So, we re convinced that everyone feels the program is appropriate.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:04am

Different opinions in the Pentagon are the people's first line of defense and best hope for survival as a nation.

Reacting to real world situations as a nation is the purview of very few people on a scale. Who in their right minds would want homogeny of thought on the front lines?

Idiots club only.

F-
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:05am

Only one complaint
"Several million people across the federal government have taken the training since it was released, Pickart said, and there has been only one complaint..."

I wonder what happened to the person that complained.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Starke (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:22am
  
  Re: Only one complaint
  They were eaten by a grue.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Edward Teach, 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:05pm
  
  Re: Only one complaint
  My thought to the "only one complainer" note was "Bullshit".
  
  The complainers went to their various supervisors and complained vigorously, and perhaps humorously. For example, in the late 80s, at an aerospace company, I went to my supervisor and asked to take my drug test at my desk, because I was very busy. In the staff meeting where they announced "random" "drug" "tests", I asked how big the bottle was, noting that I had a very large bladder.
  
  That is, a lot/all of complaints just don't get past first level managers, no matter how biting the criticism is. Complaints certainly don't get past the department level manager, who will claim to have forwarded them "up the ladder", when in fact, the complaint paperwork went in the wastebasket.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:22am

Huh?
Thinking back on the news, the leakers most prominently in the public mind have all been (East)Indian broke travellers - Snowden, Manning, Cheney and his buddy Skipper who leaked a CIA agent's identity, Ellsberg... Do we see a pattern as to what ethnicity/gender should be watched? Add in all the cold-war spies (supposedly Ethel Rosenberg was just a stooge for her husband who called the shots) and pretty much all of them are white, male... Turbans are sorely under-represented, as are women.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rikuo (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:35am
  
  Re: Huh?
  Pretty sure that if their photos are anything to go by, Snowden and Manning are Caucasian. Do they have family in India, I don't care and it doesn't matter.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:34pm
    
    Re: Re: Huh?
    Oh, yes, Snowden, manning, Ellsberg, Cheney and his buddy Scooter (not the muppet, I think) are all East Indian Females. That explains their disregard for government secrecy requirements.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Rikuo (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:51pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Huh?
      Sorry, when I wrote that reply to you, I was reading your comment wrong. I thought you were saying that Manning, Snowden et al were Indian, now that I've re-read it, you actually didn't.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:25am

The really scary part is that if Snowden didn't do anything, people would have just carried on with their lives without so much as a single thought about privacy issues....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:36am

This makes it clear that the federal government is not a servant of the people but a rouge organization only interested in growing it's own power and influence much like any other corporation in assistance.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- John Fenderson (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:47am
  
  Re:
  but a rouge organization
  
  Goddamn reds!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 10:59am
    
    Re: Re:
    They're making this all up!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Joseph Ratliff (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 11:00am

We immediately classify people based on rather stupid criteria, and if you read the slide shared in this article carefully, you'll notice the "speaks openly about unhappiness with U.S. foreign policy" as one of the criteria.

What is our world, and our country coming to? This type of approach immediately does 2 things that I'm concerned about...

1. It creates fear, especially the kind for "speaking out" in our supposedly free country.

2. This type of "training" immediately boxes people into categories, so BEFORE you meet a person, you've immediately classified them (within the context of employment at this Government agency).

You don't even get to know a person before they now must prove to you they don't fit this "box".

This. Is. Sad.

So because she has financial difficulties, travels to India, and speaks her mind... she is high risk.

Wow.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 11:14am

good lord what kind of monster have I become?
I had to re take this "training" last month apparently I have become a medium threat. It may be time for me to find a new line of work.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Eponymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 11:21am

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custode?
Now we know, the watchmen are watched over by their fellow watchmen with steely-eyed paranoia...

I can't wait for this program to be updated in the near future; also making one a threat risk if they haven't reported a few colleagues in the last year or so under said program. This dog will forever chase it's wagging tail.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
sehlat (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 11:42am

Giving Whistleblowers a Free Training Kit!
This is great! The kit tells every potential whistleblower exactly what to avoid doing so they don't get caught before they tear the government a new one.

Call it the Snowden Effect. :)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:26pm

"DISA was sensitive to any civil liberty concerns that might arise from any portion of the curriculum, which is why it coordinated with 26 federal agencies to ensure the maximum amount of input was received before going live."

I think this is supposed to read

"DISA was sensitive to any civil liberty concerns that might arise from any portion of the curriculum, which is why it coordinated with 26 federal agencies to ensure the maximum amount of input was received and ignored before going live."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
FM Hilton, 8 Aug 2013 @ 2:21pm

Wondering
I wonder if this program has DRM in it?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 2:39pm

http://www.amazon.com/Stasiland-Stories-Behind-Berlin-Wall/dp/0062077325

Another good instruction manual to go with 1984.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 2:49pm

The reason the load time is so long, is due to every file being downloaded off your computer.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Heyheyhey, 8 Aug 2013 @ 4:15pm

Before we go blaming
People like to chastise Obama for this stuff, when it was happening long before him. "Are you, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2013 @ 4:58pm

Student loans
Anyone who is (a) having trouble paying off their student loans (b) travels outside the US and (c) openly participates in dissident websites (like Techdirt) probably *is* a security risk -- or at least, has a higher chance of pulling a Snowden than someone who does none of the above.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Watchit (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 6:51pm

[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Watchit (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 6:52pm

I'm a medium-high risk government worker! Watch out!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
prefersspockbecausedatasucks, 8 Aug 2013 @ 9:29pm

Wonder what the clappers profile would look like
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
steve, 10 Aug 2013 @ 2:48am

Content is everything
This appears to be a training system put in place to help identify potential security leaks. So, if you have an employee who can travel out of the country quickly and easily; and they also speak openly at the DoD about their political beliefs then they probably should at least be shown to HR. This is more a company doing damage control and trying to put a cap on the constant leakage than it is the government profiling everyday citizens.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]