Want a security clearance? Feds will now check your Facebook and Twitter first

originally posted by: ColdWisdom
a reply to: Bedlam

So if they've been doing it since 2004 then why is it suddenly important to make it public now?

I can tell you from bitter experience that the DIA combs at least SOME popular online forums looking for *ahem* overly informative posts made by members of the community, as it were, and were doing so back in 2004.

So not only do they look at what you post when you're up for adjudication, they look to see if you're posting stuff even when you're NOT up for a clearance change.

a reply to: Bedlam

No wonder you never really spill the really juicy beans on anything, just teasers

a reply to: Bedlam

Shush Bedlem they can here the Clock ticking

You have said too much already

Riouz

originally posted by: HUMBLEONE
Social media is a data mining operation.. now its obvious.

Able Providence is seeded from Facebook and other popular social sites. So yeah, it's handy that you put all that info up.

originally posted by: AmericanRealist
a reply to: ColdWisdom

Did they mention what the procedure was for those of us who have neither, and never have? I hope not having a public life invader does not disqualify me.

Those of us without a Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Linked-In, etc.., account would be FLAGGED as a potential weirdo introvert, with something to hide.

Hillary Clinton's online social activity is considered the "normal" standard these days.

originally posted by: Bedlam

originally posted by: HUMBLEONE
Social media is a data mining operation.. now its obvious.

Able Providence

lol the government sure comes up with funny names for simple data mining scripts.

a reply to: carewemust

it's a rumor/theory that's been going around for a while that if you don't have a social media account of some kind but you use the internet for any purpose ever you are suspect.

That is one of the internet myths I think is actually truth.

originally posted by: seeker1963
Secret US Policy Blocks Agents From Looking at Social Media of Visa Applicants, Former Official Says

Has that changed? Why was it secret in the first place?

Most USSIDs are secret. There was (and might still be...quien sabe?) one that prevents the NSA from directly intercepting the communications of FORNs who have green cards. For example.

Others protect forum traffic like this. However, most USSIDs can be got past one way or a dozen others, or if you're in a hurry you just get one of your Five Eyes podnos to do the dirty for you.

a reply to: Bedlam

There was (and might still be...quien sabe?) one that prevents the NSA from directly intercepting the communications of FORNs who have green cards.

wouldn't any granted access to secret level for the individual also be bound by a non-disclosure agreement?

I hear the terms of those are pretty efficient in keeping people quiet for the allotted time specified.

originally posted by: Vector99

originally posted by: Bedlam

originally posted by: HUMBLEONE
Social media is a data mining operation.. now its obvious.

Able Providence

lol the government sure comes up with funny names for simple data mining scripts.

It's far from simple. That thing's a monument to coding.

a reply to: ColdWisdom

This has been happening for years, not exactly breaking news.

No surprise to anyone who is paying attention to tge cyber surveillance complex.

a reply to: Bedlam

I would assume it's not an individual program though right?

To mine such data you need thousands of really good crawlers sending data to the source of that program, then that program sending its source data to a data processing program. And millions of those programs crawl the web individually mining and processing data with refined parameters all focusing the refined data to a central hub. Then I assume the government has thousands of such hubs, which eventually make their way to Utah.

Just went through this a few weeks ago while having my clearance re-activated. I don't Twitter. I showed the investigator my Facebook account and this website. She loved this site. Who ever came up with the idea of sending a smoking hot woman investigator to do an interview over lunch had a great idea.

a reply to: ColdWisdom

I have one. I'm assuming you, the o.p...and prob most others here, don't have or intend to get one? Its always been this way (or this deep in you prefer). Nothing's any different. Just more to check as the digital world grows. You expect a lot of digging. And you get it. And it's ok.

When you have one or several different types...or will be required to get one...you don't sweat it unless you have something you don't want found out. Don't go for any position-assignment-placement that requires the intensive checking!

70% of those with clearances, don't care because we understand it's thoroughness going in. The other 10% split when they realize the depth of it, 10% don't get it, and the other 10% decide against going through it.

I will add its your job, friends, past employers, medical history and current and past doctors and medications, schools, criminal and civil records, marriages-divorces, kids, mortgages, bank accounts, credit ratings, any bankruptcies or judgments and yes now...social networking...and sometimes even investigating your "friends" on social networking to a degree.

Finally...one has to expect it to be followed up on and updated/investigated the whole time you have it. And they do, and it is.

MS

a reply to: mysterioustranger

You hit it right on the head. When I got my first clearance I was 18 and in the Navy. When I was in high school (late 1970's) I had an affinity for setting off firecrackers. When I came home on leave I went to visit the high school. While I was in the office the Principal asked me to step into his office. He said that there were some Federal agents asking about me a few months back, was everything OK. I told him that everything was fine, that was just for my clearance. He asked what the clearance was for and I told him "Special weapons load team". I didn't know that he was ex-Air Force when he replied "THEY ARE GOING TO LET YOU AROUND NUKES!!!"

Man this is the best thing about retirement...

No more security clearance.

No more 5 year updates.

No more financial disclosure forms.

and especially.... no more polygraphs!!! Woot.

Clearances are golden in the DC metro area and can add thousands to a job offer. If you can get one and want to live in the DC area, you can make a lot of money. A lot.

I remember one time they were paying people with a TS/SCI clearance $25.00 an hour just to sit in a chair and watch contractors do work.. that was 15 years ago.... I know several people that made a lot of extra cash doing that part time outside of their own work.

With the proper guidance,,,, a young person can hit making $100K annually before they hit 25 without ever spending a single penny on college. All it takes is someone to show you the path.

The path to riches, if you are single, is to join the military branch of your preference, do 5 years in the military in the intelligence field...that will get you your clearance for free...the 5 years experience will get your foot in the door and give you a wealth of training and contacts you simply can not get in any college, exit military and and apply for overseas contracting jobs in your speciality. You can make 200K and up a year just being a contractor, and some of that is even tax free.

Golden rule of thumb... the higher amount of money they are willing to pay you to commit is directly proportional to your expected life span if you accept it. higher pay = shorter expectancy. That life isn't cut out for everybody, but if you can do it... you can comfortably retire by your mid 30's.

originally posted by: ColdWisdom
a reply to: Vector99

Meh. It still stinks somehow... I just know it.

Then don't post anything on Facebook, twitter or whatever.

It's funny that we bitch about privacy, yet we post all of our business on the internet.

OK for the dozens of you that read the OP and not the thread I will repeat this:

No, I do not have a FB, Sh*tter, Instakilo, Crapchat, or even a LinkedOut. And I will never have one.

AND

Of course they've been doing this a long time we know that already. What's interesting is the fact to go public with it. Me thinks it has to do with the dipping of FB's stock last week and this is a way to level the playing field.

Anytime a headline comes out like this that merges two industries, tech companies' stock rises.

AND

I would have to assume that not having social media is probably preferred by Intelligence Agencies. This way they know you aren't a blabber mouth.

a reply to: RickinVa

I'm doing a consulting job on the side that required mine to be re-activated. It was within five years so it was just the paperwork and the interview. No sweat.

originally posted by: DerBeobachter
a reply to: ColdWisdom

And what, if you don´t use "social" media crap?
Terrorist?
Will people be forced to use "social" media in the future, otherwise... "FEMA-Camp"?

Or they just wouldn't have anything to check... But hey I guess terrorist and forced social media or fema camps is more fun to think right?