Fusion center
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A Fusion Center is a terrorism prevention and response center that was started as a joint project between the Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs between 2003 and 2007.
The fusion centers gather information not only from government sources, but also from their partners in the private sector.[1][2]
They are designed to promote information sharing at the federal level between agencies such as the CIA, FBI, Department of Justice, US Military and state and local level government. As of July 2009, the Department of Homeland Security recognizes at least seventy-two fusion centers.[3] Fusion centers may also be affiliated with an Emergency Operations Center that responds in the event of a disaster.
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[edit] Criticism
[edit] MIAC Report
Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) made news in 2009 for targeting supporters of third party candidates (such as Ron Paul), pro-life activists, and conspiracy theorists as potential militia members.[4] Anti-war activists and Islamic lobby groups were targeted in Texas, drawing criticism from the ACLU.[5]
According to the Department of Homeland Security:[6]
[T]he Privacy Office has identified a number of risks to privacy presented by the fusion center program:
- Justification for fusion centers
- Ambiguous Lines of Authority, Rules, and Oversight
- Participation of the Military and the Private Sector
- Data Mining
- Excessive Secrecy
- Inaccurate or Incomplete Information
- Mission Creep
[edit] 2009 Virginia Terrorism Threat Assessment
In early April 2009, the Virginia Fusion Center came under criticism for publishing a terrorism threat assessment which states that certain universities are potential hubs for terror related activity.[7] The report targeted historically black colleges and identified hacktivism as a form of terrorism.[8]
[edit] Existing Fusion Centers
- The Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC)
- Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GISAC)
- Terrorism Early Warning Center (TEW) in Los Angeles
- Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center (NEORFC)
- Michigan Intelligence Operation Center (MIOC)
- Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC)
- Washington Joint Analytical Center (WAJAC)
- North Central Texas Fusion System (NCTFS)
- Virginia Fusion Center (VFC)
[edit] See also
- Surveillance
- ADVISE
- TALON
- Total Information Awareness
- Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007
[edit] References
- ^ Monahan, T. 2009. The Murky World of 'Fusion Centres'. Criminal Justice Matters 75 (1): 20-21.[1]
- ^ http://www.securitymanagement.com/article/smashing-intelligence-stovepipes?page=0%2C1
- ^ Report on Fusion Centers July 29 2009 Democracy Now
- ^ http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/23/fusion-centers-expand-criteria-identify-militia-members/
- ^ http://www.securitymanagement.com/news/fusion-centers-under-fire-texas-and-new-mexico-005314
- ^ Privacy Impact Assessment for the Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative December 11, 2008 [2]
- ^ http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Virginia_terror_assessment_targets_enormous_crosssection_0406.html
- ^ http://rawstory.com/images/other/vafusioncenterterrorassessment.pdf
[edit] External links
- Information Fusion Centers and Privacy Information related to Fusion Centers and privacy. Electronic Privacy Information Center June, 2008.
- Fusion Center Update Report from the ACLU July, 2008.
- Fusion Center Guidelines issued by the US Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs
- Council on Foreign Relations: Fusion Centers
- Thesis on Fusion Centers by William A. Forsyth
- North Central Texas Fusion System - Prevention Awareness Bulletin 02-19-09 http://www.baumbach.org/fusion/PAB_19Feb09.doc
[edit] Video
- Democracy Now! story about fusion centers, August, 2008
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