How to protect Americans from anti-terrorism data sharing

Across the United States, dozens of 'fusion centers' pool and share information in an effort to prevent another September 11. But these centers have not been effective anti-terrorism tools and have violated Americans' rights. Here's how they can be fixed.

By Mary McCarthy and Bob Barr / December 7, 2012

Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder (in background) attend a meeting in Washington, in February 2010. Op-ed contributors Mary McCarthy and Bob Barr write: 'Janet Napolitano has said, ?Fusion Centers will be the centerpiece of state, local [and] federal intelligence-sharing for the future.? ' But the centers pose 'very real risks' to civil liberties. They need 'safeguards to lessen those risks.'

Jim Young/Reuters/file

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In the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy, American leaders from across the political spectrum vowed to do everything in their power to prevent another attack. Over the past decade, the government has developed dozens of new programs and spent trillions of dollars in the name of combating terrorism. One initiative that is finally receiving the attention it deserves in light of its enormous cost and potential for abuse has been the creation of information hubs, or so-called ?fusion centers,? across the United States.

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Unfortunately, these centers have not served as effective counter-terrorism tools, and in fact, have violated Americans? rights in the process. This was made clear by a comprehensive investigation by the Senate Homeland Security Investigations Subcommittee released in October.

Fusion centers are state and regionally based information-sharing hubs designed to pool the knowledge and expertise of state, local, and federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies, military officials, and private sector entities. Though they are not federal entities and have no federal legal status, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has said, ?Fusion Centers will be the centerpiece of state, local [and] federal intelligence-sharing for the future.? Already, there are 77 fusion centers across the US, and the federal government alone has invested vast sums ? the Senate subcommittee estimated as much as $1.4 billion between 2003 and 2010 ? in their operation.

Our experience in intelligence gathering and law enforcement taught us the value of pro-active information sharing among first responders at all levels of government and the intelligence community. And we have little doubt that fusion centers, if run properly, can play an important role in addressing terrorist and other serious criminal threats.

But are they being run properly? As the recent Senate investigation report corroborates, the evidence demonstrates the very real risks fusion centers pose to civil liberties ? and the need for safeguards to lessen those risks.

For example, a report we helped to prepare for The Constitution Project found that several centers have issued bulletins that characterize a wide variety of religious and political groups as ?threats? to national security, including Muslim hip-hop bands and supporters of former presidential candidate Ron Paul. Since fusion centers routinely share ?suspicious activity reports? with other centers and the FBI, innocent Americans exercising constitutionally protected rights can end up in centralized counter-terrorism databases.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Sp3lksEu404/How-to-protect-Americans-from-anti-terrorism-data-sharing

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