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FBI's Internet Cafe Terrorist Profile

Remember Operation Pipeline from the '90's and the DEA's ridiculous list of what cops should look for when making traffic stops? On the list were things like "fast food wrappers" in the vehicle, too much luggage, not enough luggage. (Law review article on it here, on p. 748.) It was a blueprint resulting in racial profiling.

Now the FBI has come up with a list of what ordinary citizens should look for and report when patronizing an internet cafe. It's called Communities Against Terrorism: Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Internet Cafe. Among the suspicious indicators:

  • attempts to shield the screen from view of
    others
  • Always pay cash
  • Signs onto Comcast, AOL or another residential-based internet provider

It's not just internet cafes. The FBI has distributed flyers for 25 types of businesses. You can view them all here.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Is the FBI serious? (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 10:32:07 AM EST
    Everybody lookin' at pron at Starbucks who bought their caramel latte with cash is a terror suspect now?  

    Scary part is in dime-dropper bed-wetter nation their phone lines will be blowing up.

    dawg forbid someone logs on to (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by nycstray on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 11:25:24 AM EST
    their internet service provided email in public . . .

    Parent
    and doesn't want people reading over their (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by CST on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 12:00:49 PM EST
    shoulder.

    This list is obsurd.

    Parent

    Most Offensive List (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by RustedView on Thu Feb 09, 2012 at 10:28:43 AM EST
    I would note the most offensive of the list as follows:

    Are overly concerned about privacy

    That's right folks, anyone who cares about keeping their private business private must be a terrorist.

    Personally, I think we should be concerned about people who don't care about privacy at all.  That apathy (or in the FBI's case, antipathy) is leading us on a dangerous road.

    Encryption

    Yes, if you take steps to prevent Uncle Sam from reading your personal messages you must be a terrorist.  All good Americans leave their electronic communications free and open to our friends at NSA.

    Always pay cash

    It is clearly the FBI stance that patriotic Americans must be bank cards so that their habits can be tracked, and a small kickback can be given to financial institutions.

    Yes indeed, FBI just wants you to be a good American citizen, use bank cards, and keep all communication open to easy reading for their agents.


    Saw this coming (none / 0) (#5)
    by Edger on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 08:12:34 PM EST
    a long time ago, for what it's worth...

    It Will All Make Sense (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by john horse on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 08:42:48 PM EST
    after they pass the Power To Do Whatever The F*ck We Want Act.

    Parent
    Didn't that happen (none / 0) (#7)
    by Edger on Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 08:50:06 PM EST
    about the time color tv and the take the puppy home and play with it for a week free sales close was invented?

    Parent