News FBI data mining, here we go again

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The FBI is requesting $12 million for the establishment of a National Security Branch Analysis Center as part of its Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force, which aims to manage an extensive database projected to contain 6 billion records by 2012. Critics express concerns about the feasibility and legality of such a vast data collection effort, citing the FBI's previous failures, including the abandonment of the Virtual Case File system after a $170 million investment without resolution of technical issues. There are apprehensions regarding data misuse and the reliability of outside contractors managing this data. The discussion emphasizes skepticism about the effectiveness of expanding data collection rather than refining it to improve security outcomes.
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[/QUOTE=]The FBI is seeking $12 million in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 for its Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force to set up a National Security Branch Analysis Center, with 59 employees, including 23 contractors and five FBI agents.

Justice Department budget documents submitted to Congress predict the center will hold 6 billion records by 2012 and "the universe of subjects will expand exponentially." That would equal "20 separate 'records' for each man, woman and child in the United States," the congressmen wrote.[/QUOTE]

This might make some people feel safer, but judging on their past record I still think that they are trying to collect too much data. If one wants to find a needle in a haystack one should start by making the haystack smaller not larger.

What the heck is the NSA doing with all of their data that they can't share. The more data collected the greater the chance that it will be misused or end up in the wrong hands.

The FBI was not successful with their previous massive attempt, nor did they operate within the law.

-The FBI junked its Virtual Case File computerized records system in 2005 after spending $170 million without solving technical troubles. The replacement is reportedly running behind schedule.

-An FBI consultant was able to hack into classified bureau computers last year and access counterespionage and witness protection files and 38,000 FBI passwords, including Director Robert Mueller's.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_FBI_Data_Mining.html
 
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edward said:
If one wants to find a needle in a haystack one should start by making the haystack smaller not larger.
I'm not sure you understand the concept of data mining. The idea is to gather as much data as you can get and use powerful computers to analyze it.
 
russ_watters said:
I'm not sure you understand the concept of data mining. The idea is to gather as much data as you can get and use powerful computers to analyze it.

I definitely understand Russ. The problem is that the outside contractors who will be operating those powerful computers don't have a solid record for being reliable.

The previous data mining program was shut down in 05 because it was unmanageable. I can't see where an even larger system is going to do any better.
 

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