Government databases: A threat to your civil liberties?

[Tesha]

I'm working on a project that's trying to identify the
various government databases and assess how much of
a threat they pose to our civil liberties.

Now, for completeness, I obviously want to include
the older databases like the Social Security database,
the Medicare database, the various state Drivers'
License databases, and the like. But I'm especially
interested in *NEW* databases such as:

o The "No-fly" list

o The TIA (Total Information Awareness) database, or
whatever they're calling today as they try to hide it
from us.

I'm also interested in the old-but-secret databases
such as:

o NSA databases

o The infamous "FBI Files" that we all may or may not
have, with or without "a study in blacj-and-white of
(our) fingerprints".

So if you can think of a database I ought to be
considering, please post it as a reply to this thread.
I'd also appreciate your assessment of its threat to
our liberties and civil rights.

Tesha

[SpiralHawk]

1. Don't forget the Database of Database Identifiers

I am sure the corrupt BushCo Cronies will have that list quite complete to ensure their fascist control of information.

"All your database are belong to us." - Commander AWOL & Corrupt republicon cronies

[unhappycamper]

2. There's an recruiting database built by a Wakefield, MA company.

It's financed by the DOD & has recruiting/personnel info on kids. The data is collected thru the NCLB act.

[wizstars]

3. Schools getting federal funds....

...have to give military recruiters access to high school kids' personal records or lose federal funding. I think this may be part of the "No Child's Behind Left" laws. (hey another reason to impeach the sonofabush!)

[Tesha]

4. Thanks so far!

Please keep the ideas coming!

Tesha

[Tesha]

5. I guess I should have headlined this thread...

I guess I should have headlined this thread "OMG OMG OMG!"
or "Ann Coulter caught masturbating monkeys!" or the ever-
popular "YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS!"

Oh well, I guess it's not important enough.

Tesha

[salin]

6. IRS database

It was in the news last year when it broke otu into the news that some 'private contracters' creating databases of taxpayers were including things like - political party - which was I believe against the law. There was some hemming, blaming the contractors (they were gathering other data - we don't know how that got there... its getting scrubbed). The odd thing was that some of the states which were included do not have party registrations - Wisconsin, iirc does not require party affiliation - so how this data was collected and to be added? Searching through campaign donations? no idea. Oh - I think in one of the few articles that appeared at the time (and then the story disappeared) I think these were databases used to determine who should be 'gone after' for audits.

[MadHound]

7. Another side of the equation that you need to address

That's the numerous databases kept by corporate America. Corporations regularly share this information both amongst themselves and with the government.

Also, don't forget two of the biggest government databases, the FBI's CARNIVORE(and its replacement) and the CIA's ECHELON. Both of these are set up to not only capture, but screen every American's phone calls and email for "subversive" or "terrorist" wording.

[Tesha]

8. And, of course, *ANY* of those private databases can be subpoenaed.

And, of course, *ANY* of those private databases can be
subpoenaed by the government (or probably just obtained
using a "National Security Letter") and the data within
tha formerly-private database merged into the rest of the
government's knowledge about you.

Tesha