Software sought to expose terrorist cells

[Doug Millison]

Software sought to expose terrorist cells

In a move that has some privacy rights advocates concerned, the Pentagon
is hoping to track down terrorists with the help of a growing battery of
computer software developed to combat consumer and business fraud.

The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency is trying to design its
own version of the software to uncover terrorist cells that are posing
as legitimate groups and lying about such things as past employment,
education and business affiliations.

''What is needed is intelligent agent software that is capable of
reviewing websites and identifying implausible or inconsistent
information,'' the agency said in a public notice seeking help from
businesses or others to create the software.

The software would root out suspicious activity such as ''companies who
claim contracts incommensurate with their business history or size'',
persons who have ''missing periods in their background'' and ''persons
whose positions are inconsistent with their experience''.

Mercury News, 2001-10-11
http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/depth/darpa101001.htm


...for Pynchon relevance, see his concerns re computer networks and civil
liberties in his introduction to the UK edition of _Stone Junction_.



Doug Millison - Writer/Editor/Web Editorial Consultant
millison at online-journalist.com
www.Online-Journalist.com