Imagine for a moment, that you write articles for any one of a number of political blogs, posting them on various social media websites.  How would you feel knowing that the federal government has permission to monitor your activities and collect personal information about you?

Freedom of speech might allow journalists to get away with a lot in America, but the Department of Homeland Security is on the ready to make sure that the government is keeping dibs on who is saying what.

Under the National Operations Center (NOC)’s Media Monitoring Initiative that came out of DHS headquarters in November, Washington has the written permission to retain data on users of social media and online networking platforms.

Specifically, the DHS announced the NCO and its Office of Operations Coordination and Planning (OPS) can collect personal information from news anchors, journalists, reporters or anyone who may use “traditional and/or social media in real-time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed.”

So, let’s see… with the passing of NDAA FY 2012, the current threat of SOPA/PIPA, the DHS has been monitoring social sites for keywords, and now the monitoring of journalists, what is next? Mandatory implanting of chips in every human? We already have cell phones keeping track everyone we go.

Although the agency says it will only collect data that is publicly available, the question remains:  Why is the federal government spending time and taxpayer money monitoring people who write or report online?

But not to worry – just because the government is monitoring online activites of writers, bloggers and journalists, the federal government says it is doing all it can to keep that information private.  I feel so much better already….

I’m not liking the change going on. Our rights are quickly eroding away. Another blogger commented on a post and said she felt like there is a malevolent presence growing and circulating through our country and society.

I agree.

Published by Michelle

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