A report by US Army Intelligence points to Twitter, GPS devices, and voice changing software as potential “terrorist tools.” Friend of CG, Noah Shachtman, posted the report on Danger Room noting that intelligence services have said that everything from MMORPGs to garage door openers could be potentially dangerous to Americas precious bodily fluids. They note:
“Twitter was recently used as a countersurveillance, command and control, and movement tool by activists at the Republican National Convention. The activists would Tweet each other and their Twitter pages to add information on what was happening with Law Enforcement near real time.”
Look: Twitter can’t even keep the Fail Whale at bay most days, let alone create a command and control structure for young men and women with a penchant for Anchor Steam beer and trail mix. As Shachtman notes in his piece, this report is good and bad. It’s good in that explores something most Army Intelligence employees probably know nothing about but bad in that it wastes valuable brain time on tools that are pretty much secondary to terrorist aims. Twitter contains no havok-making tools per se and its functionality could easily be recreated using SMS, carrier pigeons, and smoke signals. But at least now a bunch of US Army Intelligence officials probably have Twitter accounts, exposing them to possible surveillance.
Interesting info… but I wonder why they use Twitter instead of something else that’s more discreet
A pencil is also a “potential terrorist tool.”
The clinical stage of overall paranoia (based on NO EVIDENCE) begins…
Damn right, I guess that’s evident now!
Allow me to be an editor:
“this news is good and band”
I use twitter to find other superhero friends. We tell each other where a robbery is going on and fly over there, chip chop chip.
I want to see more police officers and firemen on twitter..
If you’re not in the know, Twitter is a microblogging service that makes it easy to keep up with your favorite people (hopefully us) on multiple networks and devices.
Follow us on Twitter !!
If you search good enough people might even find terrorist threats in puzzles.
Homeland Security thinks your toothpaste is a weapon at LAX….I would think Cell Phones pose a much bigger threat…
Sigh, sad that we have become a police state, huh?
True democracy exists when the most uninformed, ignorant and stupid citizen is allowed to express her/his opinions freely. As it happens here, in the USA.
You ‘Chinawhite’ have absolutely *NO CLUE* of what a “a police state” is — maybe you think so because your mom tells you to go and clean your room, huh?
China, Russia, Venezuela, etc. are very ‘efficient’ police states, but you wouldn’t know it.
Let’s see:
– Is Twitter global?
– Can anyone join twitter?
– Can anyone communicate through Twitter?
– Can anyone communicate through Twitter at anytime?
Now, you tell me, yes, you MORONS, if the answers to these questions are “YES” Why on earth *TERRORISTS* foreign and domestic would not use Twitter??????
I know, I know, it is maybe because you retarded onanists believe that Twitter is you private toy…
Grow up, retards!
Ditto!
It is amazing! Assuming that most readers on this blog are *smart* technology savvy people, they show an astounding degree of ignorance and stupidity!
Yes, and the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, on September 11, 2001 *NEVER HAPPENED* — And IF it did, George Bush and Dick Cheney planned and executed it.
Obviously Twitter could be used as a terrorist tool but what are the chances that it could be? You seem to think it’s 100% because of how you treat other comments here (”Oh my god, it’s clear and present danger! Why is nobody else as alarmed as I am?”). I think that email, SMS, phone, cellphone, cb-radio, walkie-talkie and hand-signals are more effective and Twitter is way down the list.
It’s cheap to monitor Twitter so I believe the government is monitoring it anyways. If the terrorists were using Twitter then it would make the government’s job easier! All terrorist communication would be centralized through one provider!
You’re an idiot. The point isn’t that terrorists could never use Twitter, it’s that they could use anything. Should we expect a US Army Intelligence report on how the telephone is a terrorist tool? Xbox Live? Spray paint - because you can paint secret terrorist signals on the sidewalk? Any communication medium? Perhaps they should spend more time worrying about finding actual terrorists and preventing actual attacks rather than worrying about whether bicycles are terrorist tools because terrorists might, you know, bike around on them.
What’s next…
why is it that posters of such intelligence, etc never post their URI. I would like to follow them…ha
“posters of such intelligence” –Let’s be honest: learning how to read/post to a blog requires the brain power of a mouse, as it is to use an iPhone, iPod, etc.
It is really a matter of rudimentary skills, again, as mice could master: running on wheel, etc.
They are going followed already. We will get them in the darkest night… this coming week!
Jason
We all use Twitter every day. So?
Military Intelligence is an oxymoron.
I had to say it.
“I had to say it” –Because?
You could not come up with anything better?
C’mon, give it another try!
Show us that you are awake…
Very well, all joking aside. I can understand that they would be irresponsible not to consider the possibility of terrorist interference at an event of such importance as this and at least dispatch some guys to check it out. I suppose that is what they did, and this was probably the only thing worth mentioning, or at least that we know about. I really do appreciate that.
I can’t help but find it extremely troubling though that a government organization with as much power as “Army Intelligence” is using its resources to covertly monitor the activities of Americans obeying the law and using publicly available communications services.. Twitter, for christ’s sake.
Insert standard government paranoia here. Highly trained soldiers carrying out surveillance on what they almost certainly see as “dissident elements” at the Republican National Convention.. on Americans who are obeying the law but have political views that diverge from the norm. It’s kind of scary.
I have friends and family who are in Army Intelligence right now, one just got deployed. I know that these are good loyal Americans themselves doing their jobs. The Army Intelligence joke is probably the oldest most worn in the book, but they still seem get a laugh off it :)
“I have friends and family who are in Army Intelligence right now, one just got deployed” Of course, this makes you an expert on national security. Sorry, but you are clueless…
Maybe you think that terrorists should not use Twitter because you use it and like it? Wake up!
Contrary to popular belief [I mean you little bloggers] there is no privacy on the Internet, including ‘encrypted’ email messages.
Homeland Security has done a magnificent job protecting us, American citizens, from terrorism.
For the past eight years, thousands of known terrorists, would-be terrorists and their supporters/sympathizers in the US, have been *closely* watched and, when warranted, arrested, interrogated, detained and deported. They still are, right now.
These shady characters are Middle Eastern “students” at universities all over the US, mostly in the Midwest [of course, using Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, etc]. They are also “business” people. “exporters/importers” etc. No difference.
So, when you guys our there are “surprised” about this, please make an effort and wise up. Grow up!
Good morning, Mr. Chertoff! You may be interested to know that JUST YESTERDAY I saw a tweet saying “Washington DC is gonna get RAPED” by a user named “Yo Momma Been Laid On” …Hop to it!
EH is being mounted by a big Obama-looking dude…He says Hmmmmm, it hurts but feels so good!
Yes, we are gay and proud. Obama forever!
What? This comment must come only from a very low intellect and/or someone under the influence of medications or just plain adolescent stupidity.
EH certainly sounds like one of those ’stealth’ terrorists the above comment refers to. He/she chooses anonymity to either hide his true identity or profound ignorance/stupidity –either way, it is reprehensible.
This comment reflects the reality that, sadly, many Americans choose to ignore. Terrorism IS a constant threat not only in the US but all over the world. Democratic societies know this and dedicate substantial resources to fight it in many ways.
At this time, we are at peace in the US, thanks to the efforts of many patriotic Americans; sadly, many citizens ignore the obvious and furthermore, many support and will vote for a presidential candidate that sympathizes with terrorists willing to harm our country. Let’s open aour eyes and vote for McCain-Palin on NOV 4.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Wow from britney to terrorist they all us twitter , what a suprising :)
Well wait a minute, is this somehow related to the ‘Britney is on Twitter’ post?? I have been saying for years that she’s a threat to National security….
While I was in the military ; at the end of [winding down] of the Vietnam era WAR.
The military had a really EASY time of it [eaves dropping as it was called then].
ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO!: AT THAT TIME WAS! ;
Interdict/intercept : ONES MAIL [Enlisted/Officers]
THAN READ IT( I know for a fact) they where doing this with my mail.
ALL MAIL had/has : A MAILING Address AND PERSON TO FIND , FOLLOW OR CONTACTS IF NEED BE.
Than: MY SECURITY CLEARANCE: ALSO Included A BACKGROUND CHECK BY THE INFAMOUS
[FREAKING BRAINLESS IDIOTS]} club = fbi
TO THOSE OF YOU WHOM ARE NOT ENLIGHTEN, TO DAY YOU CALL THEM THE FBI Fed. BUREAU of Investigations
Then!: [at that time] THEY WHERE A WEASELING LOT; ALL OF ‘EM, CAN’T IMAGINE WHAT THEY ARE ARE UP TOO THIS DAY AND AGE?
You guys all missed the boat on this article completely. The most important part was the sweet Dr. Strangelove reference. Kudos John Biggs, Kudos.
“You guys all missed the boat”? We are sooooooo fortunate when guys like you tell us what we don’t know… While at the same following Biggs useless post: you both dumb asses miss the point [and the elephant in the post] when totally dismissing the clear fact that Twitter IS another means of communications, that ANY terrorist could use, from anywhere in the world!
Maybe you both believe [from another post] that Twitter is *your precious and private toy* –Sober up, you fools!
Just talking to people is real time communication are they going to sew peoples mouths shut next. Texting, CB, HAM , and email can be pretty quick. Next thing you know signal flags will be illegal too. This paranoia is amazing when are they going to stop. Its just twitter you think terrorist would have more advanced ways of communicating . Give me a break these aren’t the bad guys from Die Hard here.
What? How about learning English?
Twitter is an attempt to advance our communication, and yet here the government is trying to diminish it…once again.
Terrorism in 140 characters or less?! Seriously, it’s difficult enough to use as an unimportant communication tool; I have a hard time imagining it being used for serious dialogue by less than above-board individuals.
Well, at least if the terrorists use twitter the next attack will be short, sweet, and under 140 words.
It’s good in that explores something most Army Intelligence employees probably know nothing about
Here we go!!
I highly doubt any creditable terrorist threats have been available on twitter. Just another overreaction by our government. Next thing you know they will be investigating terrorist facebook status posts. haha
It would be scary if it was true but I don’t believe it.
It has way too many problems to be relied on for such an important thing.
But, there are others out there that ARE reliable. Should we worry about everything?
I, for one, am not living my life in fear. Life is too short. Especially mine.
thematrix777
I love how a VERY small-scale riot by some misguided anarchists at the RNC constitutes a national terrorist threat. It blows my mind when the word “terror” and “terrorist” gets thrown out in regard to just about anything these days. I mean c’mon, people are now shouting “kill that terrorist” (in regard to Barack Obama) at political rallies. Terrorism is certainly a threat that has to be dealt with, but how much of our civil liberty has to be taken from us in order to be “secure”?
Let’s be frank. The scary thing here is that this report was even created. The only hope is that this was busy work that the higher-ups assigned to keep bush’s brain-dead appointees out of trouble. If this report really is considered to be useful information by the people in charge then we may as well kiss any hopes of outsmarting the terrorists goodbye. Good lord, if only someone could figure out a way to make competence an electable trait.