DHS Keeping Watchful Eye on Social Media, Storing Information
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The Department of Homeland Security announced last month it was looking into how it could use Twitter as an intelligence tool and how to monitor social media networks.
DHS is now creating accounts to monitor site activity and establish an archiving system for the information it gathers, ABC News reports.
“The NOC (National Operations Center) will gather, store, analyze and disseminate relevant and appropriate de-identified information to federal, state, local and foreign governments and private sector partners authorized to receive situational awareness and a common operating picture,” DHS said in a report explaining the program.
In the 23-page report, DHS said it monitors social media sites by using an extensive list of terms covering areas such as terrorism, cybersecurity, health and several federal agencies within and outside of DHS.
The NOC also looks at posts for North Korea and Mexico.
DHS said it does not post information nor attempts to establish connections with users.
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