There is so much what-the-fuck about this that I hardly know where to begin.
On Friday, CBS News reported,
“The Department of Homeland Security posted a contract request this week for “Media Monitoring Services,” which will compile a database of hundreds of thousands of journalists, bloggers and “media influencers” for the federal government.”
Speaking as a blogger who vehemently opposes Donald Trump, this is alarming.
The project that DHS is working on will create a searchable database that will monitor 290,000 news sources, both foreign and domestic.
The job description that was first reported by Bloomberg Law says that the contractor will work with DHS to monitor “traditional news sources as well as social media, identify any and all media coverage related to the Department of Homeland Security or a particular event.”
“Services shall provide media comparison tools, design and rebranding tools, communication tools, and the ability to identify top media influencers.”
One of the reasons this is so alarming is that it’s the Trump administration we’re talking about here. Trump has continually attacked the free press since he got elected – including calling them “the enemy of the American people.” The administration is not saying what they are planning to do with it or what the purpose is of the database. But, considering Trump’s hatred of the Fourth Estate, it can’t be good.
Many journalists took to Twitter this week to rail against this move by the administration.
I've gotten threats of violence & death from Trump supporters. Am I to be put on the Department of Homeland Security's list now, too, for having the audacity to criticize @realDonaldTrump in the media and my published work?https://t.co/lpo19Zeac7#resist #trump #FridayFeeling
— Dr. DaShanne Stokes (@DaShanneStokes) April 6, 2018
Cool, the office of Homeland Security wants to dox all the journalists in the country. This isn't bad at all.
— Kyle Anderson (@FunctionalNerd) April 6, 2018
I have friends who have been prohibited from leaving their countries, exiled from their countries with their citizenship stripped, detained and questioned by authorities, tortured, and/or imprisoned for years because of their social media commentary.
This is dangerous.
— Leah McElrath 🗽 (@leahmcelrath) April 6, 2018
Well, this isn't freaking terrifying or anything. Department Of Homeland Security Compiling Database Of Journalists And 'Media Influencers' via @forbes https://t.co/OsdivMn8dw
— Maressa Brown (@MaressaSylvie) April 6, 2018
Maybe the Trump Homeland "Security" forces would like dissidents to wear monitoring bracelets and submit themselves for tattoos, too.https://t.co/5Ow8803Mb5#resist #trump #impeachtrump #fridayfeeling #homelandsecurity
— Dr. DaShanne Stokes (@DaShanneStokes) April 6, 2018
After getting a ton of pushback and being pressed about the purpose of the database, Homeland Security press secretary Tyler Houlton said that people skeptical about their motives are just “tin foil hat wearing, black helicopter conspiracy theorists.”
Despite what some reporters may suggest, this is nothing more than the standard practice of monitoring current events in the media. Any suggestion otherwise is fit for tin foil hat wearing, black helicopter conspiracy theorists. https://t.co/XGgFFH3Ppl
— Tyler Q. Houlton (@SpoxDHS) April 6, 2018
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