Sunday, February 5, 2012

Some Reasons the Government Would Want Your Neighbors to Report You

It just gets worse every day, not only are we surrounded, but the government is out with a new pamphlet that is sure to keep neighbors, who watch too much police drama on television, watching you like they are an ex-Eastern European Soviet-era informant ready to turn you in for an extra loaf of bread.  From End of the American Dream:

When you use the Internet in a public place, do you prefer to have as much privacy as possible? Well, that makes you a potential terrorist. According to the FBI, Internet privacy is now considered to be suspicious activity. If you are out in public and you attempt to keep snoopers from peeking at your computer screen, then according to the FBI they should gather as much information about you as they can and they should report you to the authorities immediately. If this seems completely and totally ridiculous to you, then you are not alone. Millions of Americans have become deeply concerned about the constantly expanding definition of "suspicious activity" in the United States. Sadly, the federal government is now engaging in an all-out attempt to have us all spy on one another. All over America, the Department of Homeland Security is running ads promoting the "See Something, Say Something" campaign. They even had 8,000 stadium workers at the Super Bowl this year go through special training on how to spot potential terrorists. So the next time you see a hot dog vendor, keep in mind that he might also be part of a special anti-terrorism task force.

The following are some quotes from a government document entitled "Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Internet Café". In between each quote, I have included some commentary. It is absolutely amazing what the definition of "suspicious activity" now includes....

"Are overly concerned about privacy, attempts to shield the screen from view of others"

Look, if I am doing some online banking or am composing an email to a friend I don't want someone peeking at my screen. Aren't most Americans "concerned about privacy" and don't most people want to keep their Internet activity to themselves?

"Always pay cash or use credit card(s) in different name(s)"

We have seen the government warn about this before. It appears that from now on using cash in America is going to get you labeled as a potential terrorist. How bizarre is that?

"Act nervous or suspicious behavior inconsistent with activities"

Some people are just naturally nervous. This kind of vague language could be applied to almost anyone.

"Are observed switching SIM cards in cell phone or use of multiple cell phones"

What if your cell phone battery is dead and you need to use your wife's cell phone? Does that make you a potential terrorist?

"Travel illogical distance to use Internet Café"

A lot of times people will use Internet cafes when they are out of town on a trip. Is there something inherently suspicious about that?

"Evidence of a residential based internet provider (signs on to Comcast, AOL, etc.)"

Why in the world would this be considered to be suspicious activity?

"Use of anonymizers, portals, or other means to shield IP address"

These are lots of people out there that take Internet security very seriously and that use things like this. And how would a casual observer know that these kinds of things are being used? You would have to be watching someone pretty closely to know that something like this is going on.

"Suspicious or coded writings, use of code word sheets, cryptic ledgers, etc."

What would "suspicious or coded writings" include? Again, this is very vague language and could include a vast array of different things.

"Encryption or use of software to hide encrypted data in digital photos, etc."

So nobody should use encryption anymore?

"Suspicious communications using VOIP or communicating through a PC game"

What exactly would fall under the category of "suspicious communications"?

Also, if you are talking to someone through a PC game, there is a good chance that it is a very violent PC game and that you would say something that you normally wouldn't say in real life.

You might say something like this: "Okay let's get the guys together and go kill the boss. We'll meet at the Gates of Endor in a half hour."

According to the FBI, that could easily be labeled as "suspicious activity" that needs to be reported to the authorities.

So exactly what are we being instructed to do if we see something suspicious?

Well, the following is one of the action points from the FBI flyer....

"Identify license plates, vehicle description, names used, languages spoken, ethnicity, etc."

That sounds like something the KGB would ask people to do.

You can view the complete FBI flyer right here.

But it isn't just Internet privacy that the FBI is concerned about.

There is another FBI flyer out there that is directed at those running hotels and motels.

The document is entitled "Potential Indicators Of Terrorist Activities Related To Hotels And Motels", and you can view the entire document for yourself right here.

The following are things that the FBI says make a hotel guest "suspicious"....

"Request specific room assignments or locations."

I do this all the time. I always request a non-smoking room and I always prefer a king size bed. Also, if I have a lot of stuff to carry I may request a room on the ground floor. Does that make me suspicious?

"Use cash for large transactions or a credit card in someone else’s name."

Once again, using cash is considered to be a suspicious activity. How long will it be before they try to outlaw cash?

"Arrive with unusual amounts of luggage."

Has the person writing these things ever even traveled with a woman?

"Make unusual inquiries about local sites, including government, military, police, communications, and power facilities."

When I am visiting a new area, I will often talk with hotel staff about places to eat or places to visit.

Is that a problem?

"Refuse cleaning service over an extended time."

This is something that I have done for years. I don't want a maid to wake me up at the crack of dawn. If I refuse cleaning service will that get me put on a list somewhere?

"Use entrances and exits that avoid the lobby."

Many hotels have entrances all around the building so that you don't have to walk a mile to get to your car.

If I walk out a side door directly to my car does that make me a potential terrorist?

"Abandon a room and leave behind clothing and toiletry items."

How many of us have ever left something behind in a hotel room by mistake? Sometimes I triple check the room and still manage to leave something behind.

"Do not leave their room."

Sometimes when you have a day off you just want to stay in bed all day.

Or if you are newly married you may not want to leave your room for a few days.

Should newly married couples be reported to the government as potential terrorists?

Read the rest here.

9 comments:

  1. LOL! This shit would be funny if it weren't true.
    WTF is happening to the USA?

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  2. I do a lot of those things too. I also have two cell phones: one is my personal phone and the other is a work phone. So am I suspicious for working? I wonder how many people do the same thing. You need a cell phone for work but don't want to use your personal one because you pay for your line and the company pays for the work phone. Is this really that unusual?

    Why am I not supposed to use cash for purchases? I can't use gold or silver, so why not cash? I don't like using credit or checks, I don't even have checks. Why would I not use cash? Are they really looking for terrorists or is the real target drug dealers? Pimps? Tax evaders? Or people that work for a living and don't buy everything on credit? Two phones, pay in cash, etc. would apply to all of these things.

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  3. Depressing list. I think the commentary is unnecessary though, especially when he intentionally ignores part of the sentence to make it seem more ridiculous than it is. For example, "Make unusual inquiries about local sites, including government, military, police, communications, and power facilities." He conveniently ignores that most of the things on that list are fairly unusual things to ask about. It clearly doesn't mean if you ask for a good restaurant you're a terrorist.

    I agree wholly with the concerns of the article though. I just think it makes us easier to ignore or dismiss if we don't critique these honestly.

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  4. WTF? Simple - decades of watching TV robbed Americans of the capacity to think for themselves, turning them into mindless sheep. Just look at the Nevada caucus results. Disgusting.

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  5. I think we all (that's the good guys), should take them at their word and call in EVERYONE we see with two cell phones etc.etc.etc.

    Maybe it could go viral. That would be fun!

    Kinda like Abbie Hoffman 2012.

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  6. The idea that's getting kicked around lately that the internet is causing TPTB to get very nervous and is making them crank the NWO project into overdrive seems to be true more and more. We can't even go a week without getting hit with something that would be unbelievable if it hadn't been going on so much these past years.

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  7. Gosh, how many idiots does it take to run a government agency? Just enough I suppose.

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  8. Members of Congress, and probably even the field agents of your local FBI office, use encryption and worry about their privacy and security on the Internet. Report them.

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  9. Did I miss the link to access the FBI flyer? I didn't see the link...

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