Via John Haltiwanger, posting on nettime-l
Twitterati and other netizens should already know that their Internet musings are public and could potentially become fodder for intelligence analysts. But now U.S. spy agencies have officially invested in a software firm that monitors social media and half a million web 2.0 sites daily.
Wired has the breakdown on the recent investment move by In-Q-Tel, the investment arm of the CIA and other intelligence agencies. That cash is slated for Visible Technologies, a software firm that is helping Microsoft monitor Internet buzz surrounding Windows 7 and tracking online campaigns launched by animal activists against food manufacturer Hormel.”
Not that it is surprising, really, considering Facebook’s history. For a decent exposition on the relationship between Facebook and In-Q-Tel (CIA-backed venture capital investment firm), check out
http://www.brainsturbator.com/articles/facebook_the_cia_and_you/
Also of note, the EFF has a pending Freedom of Information Act requesting for social network monitoring from the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Department of Treasury, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
http://www.eff.org/foia/social-nework-monitoring
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