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You might be a terrorist if you have two cell phones, use Web proxies
Are you concerned about your digital privacy enough to use proxies and encryption software? Do you voice chat with fellow PC gamers? If so, you might be a terrorist, according to FBI and DoJ. Public Intelligence has discovered a federal document outlining a "Communities Against Terrorism" initative that describes various "suspicious" activities and offers tips on reporting them to the government.
The guideline (PDF) lists many perfectly normal behaviors but tries to validate their inclusion by emphasizing extremes that are completely open to interpretation. For instance, someone involved in terrorist activities might be "overly" concerned about their privacy and attempt to shield their screen from view of others. Such an individual might also travel "illogical" distances to visit an Internet Café.
You might also be a terrorist if you use multiple cell phones, switch SIM cards in the same handset, mask your IP address, download information on "timers, electronics or remote transmitters/receivers", or partake in "suspicious" communications through VoIP services. The list goes as far as to mention logging on to a residential-based Internet provider, such as checking your Comcast or AOL email.
Naturally, it's virtually impossible to define what constitutes being "overly" private, traveling "illogical" distances or making "suspicious" VoIP calls. By making such broad strokes, it could be argued that anyone engaging in such activities is suspect, regardless of how innocuous they may be. Nonetheless, if you feel compelled to report your neighbor or coworker, the FBI and DoJ suggest that you:
- Gather information about the suspects without drawing attention to yourself
- Log license plates, vehicle descriptions, names, languages spoken and ethnicities
- Don't collect metadata, content or search the individuals' electronic communications
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User Comments (52)
Post a comment|
lchu12
on February 2, 2012 6:52 PM |
Wow...who the hell draws up these documents? |
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pmkrefeld
on February 2, 2012 6:53 PM |
Is it just me or is FBI going mental? |
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lchu12
on February 2, 2012 6:55 PM |
pmkrefeld said: Is it just me or is FBI going mental? I would say its the FBI, but then they might label me as a terrorist...so its just you. |
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Wendig0
on February 2, 2012 6:56 PM |
So that's why the black helicopters have been circling my house lately... |
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Guest
on February 2, 2012 7:05 PM |
they're going crazy as control is escaping them lol |
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NTAPRO
on February 2, 2012 7:06 PM |
>_> Really now |
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Guest
on February 2, 2012 7:13 PM |
Seven years ago I downloaded a pdf which explained how to make your own smoke bombs with salt peter (they were wicked cool), the FBI must be watching me now. |
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Guest
on February 2, 2012 7:40 PM |
All they really want to do, is stir up a huge paranoia in people. When you see people paranoid and looking around more, you know they want security right? What better way of pushing otherwise impossible bills through? It's just a trap being set onto the public, so they can have a better grasp on your information. Intentionally "leak" things and get people worried. Then rope people in by throwing a large spread search net, that is disguised as a way of protecting the public? Sure you can call me paranoid or clueless. Just we're not all blind to the tactics, they want control on what's not controllable anymore. |
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Timonius
on February 2, 2012 7:54 PM |
Guess I'm a terrorist because I use VOIP services (not telling which ones) for online gaming (again not telling because I respect privacy |
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RzmmDX
on February 2, 2012 8:16 PM |
Patriot Act, wiretapping your communications since 2002. |
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herpaderp
on February 2, 2012 9:22 PM |
Now I feel like driving to an internet cafe 20 miles away just to do all these other things in public. At the same time. |
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Guest
on February 2, 2012 9:25 PM |
You might be a witch if you use an umbrella. |
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prismatics
on February 2, 2012 9:40 PM |
She turned me into a newt |
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Guest
on February 2, 2012 9:51 PM |
who ever came up with this...deserves a 5 finger slap across the face |
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tengeta
on February 2, 2012 9:56 PM |
well i'm screwed. guess i should just pack up and move to yemen.. |
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PinothyJ
on February 2, 2012 10:27 PM |
Hahahahahaha! This reminds me of a what happened to members from the band TISM who will always wear some sort of balaclava (even going as far as to incorporate balaclavas into their on-stage costumes). They were driving across town from one radio interview to another and were pulled over by the cops because there had been a bank robbery in the CBD and they wanted to know why they were driving around with balaclavas on. Good times? |
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R3DP3NGUIN
on February 2, 2012 11:32 PM |
Well that counts me as a terrorist then, I use a VPN and frequently SSH Tunnel to my VPS for privacy and security 75% of the time spent online |
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Rick
on February 2, 2012 11:54 PM |
Word of advice: Don't wear a black ski mask while posing conspicuously with your Macbook. |
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davimous
on February 3, 2012 12:03 AM |
I'm really sure my neighbors want to know when I'm looking at pornography. |
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Guest
on February 3, 2012 12:39 AM |
all this is actually true terrorist behavior... just happens to be what some non-terroists do to... but the article is factually correct |
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Guest
on February 3, 2012 12:52 AM |
"but the article is factually correct" Where'd you learn this? How To Be A Terrorist - Course 101? |
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tengeta
on February 3, 2012 12:55 AM |
its correct, terrorists do use the stuff. they also use water and food, so we should probably avoid those if we want to survive. |
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motrin
on February 3, 2012 1:17 AM |
i once bought Just Cause 2 from a the UK store using proxies ..i'm a terrorist!!?? |
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Archean
on February 3, 2012 1:40 AM |
May be he has been one at some point in time, anyway, 'establishments' pretty much in every country these days are using 'terrorism' as a pretext to downgrade civil liberties on way or another (unfortunately I haven't seen much organized movement against this). Also non-existent opposition to such issues probably have to do something with Military-Congressional-Industrial complex. |
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Guest
on February 3, 2012 2:13 AM |
Somehow they must justify the money that they take. |
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