Feb 9th, 2009
Posted by Suzanne Ito, ACLU at 3:03pm	National Security

You Have Been Poked By the CIA

Does anyone else think it's funny that the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA) have Facebook pages? With the increasing popularity of social networking sites, it seems even government agencies don't want to be left behind.

Although the agencies claim that their presence online is intended to serve as an additional recruiting tool, it's impossible to ignore the CIA's self-description on Facebook: "We Gather. We Analyze. We Inform."

Here's a tidbit: In September 2008, Facebook hired Ted Ullyot — former Chief of Staff for Bush administration Attorney General Alberto Gonzales — to be its Vice President and General Counsel. Of his time spent working for the Bush administration, Ullyot has said, "I have nothing but good to say about it," and stated that a major appeal of the position with Facebook included "[o]perating in a fast-moving environment where the legal framework is less-developed."  "Less developed," seriously?

Nicole Ozer, civil liberties and technology policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, stated in an earlier news article about the CIA on Facebook: "If (the CIA) knows about Facebook, and they have a page on Facebook, it would be surprising if they weren't using it in other ways."

The NSA has certainly monitored innocent Americans before.  As you may recall from lawsuits and Freedom of Information Act requests that we've filed — under the Bush administration the NSA conducted warrantless surveillance of innocent Americans' phone calls and emails — in violation of federal law and the Constitution.  And, we're still trying to get the government to disclose many of the still-secret memos penned by Office of Legal Counsel lawyers that provided the legal basis for the illegal spying program (as well as illegal torture and detention policies that were carried out in the name of national security).  We are also challenging the FISA Amendments Act, a law Congress passed in July 2007 that radically expanded the NSA's power to conduct dragnet surveillance of Americans' international communications.

So, much as we love Facebook, "Friend" at your own risk!

Permalink |	National Security

Tags: Civil Liberties News, national security project

1. Vic Livingston Says:
   Feb 9th, 2009 at 5:07pm

   JUST WROTE A LENGTHY POST FOR THIS THREAD ABOUT APPARENT TAMPERING AND MALICIOUS INTERFERENCE OF INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT FUSION CENTER SPIES.

   THE POST SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED FROM MY CACHE AFTER I RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT SAID, "WRONG SPAM WORD." I KNOW THAT I TYPED IN THE CORRECT ANTI-SPAM CODE.

   PLEASE READ MY RUNNING ACCOUNT OF APPARENT MALICIOUS INTERFERENCE, PRIOR RESTRAINT AND CENSORSHIP OF POLITICAL SPEECH ON THE WEB.

   IT'S ON THE "FREE SPEECH" THREAD HERE AT BLOG.ACLU.ORG UNDER THE POSTING ON INTERNET FILTERS.

   PLEASE READ IT BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS!

   IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL RE-WRITE THE NEW MATERIAL... AND THIS TIME I WILL COPY IT BEFORE IT IS MADE TO VANISH...

2. henry Says:
   Feb 10th, 2009 at 11:27pm

   hi out there,
   I just have a question for everyone, is there anyone facing foreclosure, having made every payment, and beeing told by your bank that they have not record of,those moneys being taken from your acount,by your lender however, the money is missing from the account and the lender makes the claim that they never got the payments? if so please post your experience and tell me if it involves Bank of America

3. DDTGood4U Says:
   Feb 18th, 2009 at 11:17pm

   Henry, go to ripoffreport.com it's slow, but I seem to recall a few complaints about that happening at a number of banks including Bank of Amerika

4. Laura Tull Says:
   Feb 20th, 2009 at 6:45pm

   I met a guy working on sets who was an actor who I sent a friend request to because he was in my e-mail list. Well after months he friends me. This was after I had informed another girl from my days on Carnivale that my father worked for the government and after she told me she worked for homeland security. I ended up knocking him off. I am not sure if I blocked him. Doubt it. I just took him off my friend list. I probably should have.

   You see his ex girlfriend when I was in the hospital with cancer called me up in my hospital room to ask me if I had an agent because she wanted one. She was a real piece of work. She also told me some other things about their relationship that made me not like her and think they were both careless and selfish.

   You are right. Be careful who you friend, because just because they work for the government does not mean they have morals or integrity or will do the right thing by you. I year for a day when we have true liberty in this country again. At this point I feel like I am being forced to do things i hate, when I am capable of doing what I love. That is wrong. Just because you have a set of skills you can use to make money, does not give the government or anyone the right to make you do what you don't wont to do.

   Peace and out.

5. Laura Tull Says:
   Feb 20th, 2009 at 6:48pm

   I forgot to add the most important fact. The former actor has a law degree, and has listed as his employer the CIA. I heard after I kicked him off that I would not be allowed on sets. that would be the government wasting my resources and theirs to play parent to an adult who already knows what she wants to do and is getting sick because I am miserable because I can't do what I love. Acting is not killing me. Those trying to be ignorant and not letting me do what i am good at and have been good at and fully know I have the right to do it that is killing me.

6. frump Says:
   Mar 18th, 2009 at 1:04am

   You need to look into hr45 gun registration because with out the freedom to own guns there is no first amendment, or any other, court of law ha, ha, all gone not even the Magna Carta. Just Obama the Dictator!!!!

7. Hawaiian style Says:
   Mar 29th, 2009 at 1:12pm

   Thinking that no matter how hard you try any service or web site such as face book can be used for improper or unintended purposes; lets pass a law that says if you are NOT a private person and NOT passing information on to other than a private party then you have to declare who you are and why you are on the service.

   The declaration would have to be clearly shown on the lead page.

   Violation of the disclosure or using the service for undeclared purposes could be a Federal Crime with mandatory sentencing where intent to deceive is proven.

8. Swan Says:
   Apr 6th, 2009 at 8:55pm

   I have been monitored and been followed by the local government and unmarked government's cars for a long time.

   Before I realized all these happening to me, I have been forced to resigned from three companies. I have a master degree in technology and now I make a minimum wage....can anyone out there help me?

9. hey Says:
   Apr 11th, 2009 at 12:23am

   If anyone is on facebook that needs to be locked up - I hope they do it. If you are doing bad stuff that makes society safer than I hope the CIA or NSA use whatever tools ae possible. With child predators, white collar crime, scams, and oter scuz on the planet, use whatever tools you need too. I you snoop on me I'll be making cookies and no worries on me. If that Swan says he is being watched - now he is making pickles. Maybe he should be watched.

10. D Says:
    Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:36am

    SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN POKED UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMTHING TO HIDE! IDIOTS .IF THEY DO THERE JOBS YOU COMPLAIN IF THEY DONT DO THERE JOBS YOU COMPLAIN IDIOTS! I WORK FOR THEM , AND I LOVE IT AND IT WILL NOT STOP PERIOD (.)

11. anonymous Says:
    May 27th, 2009 at 11:44am

    What "Swan" reports is happening to many innocent, law-abiding, good Americans. The ACLU is turning a blind-eye to practices that should never take place in America. One has to wonder why?

    That these practices are allowed to continue is criminal. The ACLU needs to help. These matters may be "criminal" but they do, in fact have "national consequences." These surveillance/"stalking" groups ruining good people and they are allowed to continue with their sadistic endeavors.

    To "hey" and "D", just wait until they turn on you. I hope it never happens, but if and when it does, you will understand what you're currently failing to grasp.

12. anonymous Says:
    Jun 2nd, 2009 at 7:57am

    Well, hopefully "the truth will out", as it's been said. Many people reportedly labeled Martha Mitchell as "delusional" when she complained about widespread corruption in the White House, during the Nixon years.
    We would all do well to keep in mind that "the truth really is stranger than fiction."

13. rex elwood Says:
    Jul 10th, 2009 at 10:32pm

    OMG - I thought you had "disbanded" or were no longer in business!!

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