MetaChat - Inappropriate use of Homeland Security powers?

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03 November 2007

Inappropriate use of Homeland Security powers? Is it just me or does it seem the US internal spy system is being used to hunt down people who aren't terrorists?→[More:]It's a little weird that just out of the blue, ding!, this plain-jane housewife is suddenly discovered to be an escapee. Umpteen years of going unnoticed and all of a sudden her particular, cold case is solved? That speaks of warrantless data mining to me.

post by: Five Fresh Fish at: 12:50 | 6 comments

And yet, this stuff would happen once in a while before 9/11.... like that guy that turned out to be an Auschwitz guard in Cleveland some years back.

The Homeland Security powers may be abused, but I see nothing in that story to suggest it in that case.

posted by Doohickie 03 November | 12:56

I don't see any difference between this and computer matching fingerprints.

posted by mischief 03 November | 15:11

"warrantless data mining"

No doubt that's a whole new massively-funded game.

posted by shane 03 November | 18:17

How could it be warrantless data mining given that this woman committed a crime-not just escaping from prison, but abandoning her 5 young children? It's abandoning her children that gets me- to leave them behind for all those years, wondering where she went. How knowing you did that to your children could be better than prison is beyond me.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 04 November | 01:41

I'm not sure what is warrantless about putting information together to find an actual convicted fugitive. It's not like it has to go back to trial again. And that's probably in the enabling legislation anyway. (You did read the USA PATRIOT act before you voted for it, didn't you?)

But yeah, it's probably being used for 100 things right now that it shouldn't be. *Hurriedly rearranges papers on desk to stymie hidden camera*

posted by stilicho 05 November | 01:32

It reads to me that they've simply been churning their databases, looking for anomolies &c.

Unless, even after umpteen years, they were still actively pursuing her case. I find that unlikely.

posted by Five Fresh Fish 05 November | 22:56

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