MATRIX
The MATRIX (Multistate Anti-TeRrorism Information eXchange) surveillance system combined information about individuals from government databases and private-sector data companies. It then made those dossiers available for search by government officials and combed through the millions of files in a search for ""anomalies"" that may be indicative of terrorist or other criminal activity. It was terminated in April 2005, though components continued to be made available to police in individual states. More. . .
Matrix Snoop Program Dismantled
(April 15, 2005)
Issue Briefs
- ACLU White Paper: New Matrix Documents Raise Troubling Questions (5/20/04)
- MATRIX: Myths and Reality (2/10/04)
- Data Mining Moves into the States (10/30/03)
General Links
- State-by-State breakdown of the ACLU's attempt to find out more information on MATRIX
- FEATURE: Total Information Awareness
- FEATURE: Surveillance
- FEATURE: ACLU privacy page
Documents Received through FOIA Requests by the ACLU (state that supplied the information in parentheses)
New! Documents posted May 20, 2004
- Letter to DHS Chief Privacy Officer Nuala O'Connor Kelly (requesting investigation of DHS role in Matrix)
- MATRIX: First Responder Support slide presentation (containing details of 'High Terrorism Factor' terrorism quotient and revealing list of 120,000 names) (from Utah Commission)
- Cooperative Agreement DHS-Matrix (indicating DHS's managerial control) (New York)
- Gov. Jeb Bush call on Matrix (Georgia)
- Gov. Jeb Bush briefing Points for the Vice President of the United States on Matrix (Florida)
- Matrix Board of Directors Conference Call Minutes for 3/18/04 (Michigan)
- DOJ Status Report on Matrix, July-December 2003 (indicating continued discussion of data mining as of January 2004) (DOJ)
- Sole Source Criteria for Matrix (showing centrality of data mining to project) (multiple states)
Minutes from MATRIX Board Meetings
- MATRIX Board of Directors Meeting Minutes from 02/06/2003 (Georgia)
- MATRIX Board of Directors Meeting Minutes from 04/22/2003 (Florida)
- MATRIX Board of Directors Meeting Minutes from 11/05/2003 (Georgia)
- MATRIX Board of Directors Meeting Minutes from 01/16/2004 (Georgia)
Information from Federal Grants
- Every MATRIX Query is Run Through Terrorism Quotient (Florida)
- Original Objectives for the MATRIX (Florida)
- Budget Breakdown of Department of Justice Grant (Florida)
State Concerns with the MATRIX
- Texas's Letter of Withdrawal from the MATRIX Program (Florida)
- Georgia DMV Security Concerns with MATRIX (Georgia)
- Documents pertaining to Georgia's involvement in MATRIX (Georgia)
- New York expresses their intention to withdraw from MATRIX (New York)
- Iowa CLU letter to governor about reported intention to join MATRIX (Iowa)
MATRIX Data and Applications
- Overview of MATRIX uses and information from Seisint (Utah)
- MATRIX Project Brochure (Florida)
- MATRIX Includes Court Records (Utah)
- Official MATRIX FAQ - (Connecticut)
- FACTS "Success Stories" within the MATRIX Program (Florida)
- A PowerPoint presentation on How Police Use MATRIX (Connecticut)
- Georgia Homeland Security Bulletin Description of MATRIX (Georgia)
- Slide show on Matrix (Michigan)
- Brochure on FACTS data mining software (Michigan)
- Early state data sharing with MATRIX (Utah)
- Face Recognition and MATRIX (Utah)
Legal Documents involving the MATRIX
- Contract Between Seisint and the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement for MATRIX (Florida)
- Memoranda of Understanding and other documents relating to Pennsylvania's involvement (Pennsylvania)
- Florida Budget Document Concerning MATRIX (Florida)
Press Releases
- ACLU Applauds End Of ""Matrix"" Program
- ACLU of Michigan and Former Governor Charge State Police with Violating Data Collection Law Through Controversial MATRIX Database Program (08/03/04)
- ACLU Unveils Disturbing New Revelations About MATRIX Surveillance Program (05/20/2004)
- ACLU Questions Michigan State Police's Authority to Participate in MATRIX Data Collection Without Oversight (05/20/2004)
- ACLU of Pennsylvania Calls On General Assembly To Bring Matrix Under Control (03/29/2004)
- ACLU Questions Michigan State Police Involvement in Data Surveillance Program (02/17/2004)
- ACLU Testifies on Newly Uncovered MATRIX Program Documents (02/10/2004)
- Documents Acquired By ACLU Prove That MATRIX is a Data Mining Program (01/21/2004)
- What Is The Matrix? ACLU Seeks Answers on New State-Run Surveillance Program (10/30/2003)
Take Action!
Is your state an active participant in the MATRIX data mining program?
If so, now is your opportunity to do something about it.
- Citizen of Connecticut? Click here to send a fax asking your state legislator to pull out.
- Citizen of Florida? Send a fax asking your state legislator to pull out.
- Citizen of Michigan? Click here to send a fax asking your state legislator to pull out.
- Citizen of Ohio? Click here to send a fax asking your state legislator to pull out.
- Citizen of Pennsylvania? Click here to send a fax asking your state legislator to pull out
Freedom of Information Act Requests & Other Legal Documents
- Legal Complaint in ACLU of Michigan Matrix Lawsuit (08/02/04)
- FOIA Request to the US Dept. of Homeland Security
- FOIA Request to the California Information Practices Coordinator
- FOIA Request to the Connecticut Department of Public Safety
- FOIA Request to the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement
- FOIA Request to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
- FOIA Request to the Michigan Dept. of State Police
- FOIA Request to the New York State Police Dept.
- FOIA Request to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
- FOIA Request to the Oregon State Police
- FOIA Request to the Pennsylvania State Police Dept.
- FOIA Request to the Texas Department of Public Safety
- FOIA Request to the Utah Dept. of Public Safety
News Clips
- Ohio Not Rushing to Join Antiterrorism Database (Associated Press, 10/26/2003)
- Two More State Back Off Matrix (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/17/2003)
- US Backs Florida's New Antiterrorism Database (Washington Post, 08/06/2003)
Other Links