The Postal Service is running a running a 'covert operations program' that monitors Americans'...

[Nevilledog]

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Brian Fung
@b_fung
The funniest part of this is why the Postal Service is calling it the “covert operations program” as if calling it Super Duper Secret will, in fact, keep it a secret

The Postal Service is running a running a 'covert operations program' that monitors Americans'...
The law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service has been quietly running a program that tracks and collects Americans’ social media posts, including those about planned protests, according to a...
news.yahoo.com
9:53 AM · Apr 21, 2021

https://news.yahoo.com/the-postal-service-is-running-a-running-a-covert-operations-program-that-monitors-americans-social-media-posts-160022919.html

The law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service has been quietly running a program that tracks and collects Americans’ social media posts, including those about planned protests, according to a document obtained by Yahoo News.

The details of the surveillance effort, known as iCOP, or Internet Covert Operations Program, have not previously been made public. The work involves having analysts trawl through social media sites to look for what the document describes as “inflammatory” postings and then sharing that information across government agencies.

“Analysts with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Internet Covert Operations Program (iCOP) monitored significant activity regarding planned protests occurring internationally and domestically on March 20, 2021,” says the March 16 government bulletin, marked as “law enforcement sensitive” and distributed through the Department of Homeland Security’s fusion centers. “Locations and times have been identified for these protests, which are being distributed online across multiple social media platforms, to include right-wing leaning Parler and Telegram accounts.”

A number of groups were expected to gather in cities around the globe on March 20 as part of a World Wide Rally for Freedom and Democracy, to protest everything from lockdown measures to 5G. “Parler users have commented about their intent to use the rallies to engage in violence. Image 3 on the right is a screenshot from Parler indicating two users discussing the event as an opportunity to engage in a ‘fight’ and to ‘do serious damage,’” says the bulletin.

“No intelligence is available to suggest the legitimacy of these threats,” it adds.

*snip*

[soothsayer]

1. Maybe they should stick to delivering mail.

Unless this is to keep carriers safe, which I doubt, because they hate them, or at least don’t care that much.

[FSogol]

3. This doesn't pass the smell test. USPIS isn't large enough to run that kind of operation.

A yahoo story quoting Parler!

[soothsayer]

5. Poor inspectors have the worst LE acronym ever

[msfiddlestix]

6. Doesn't past mine either, is it really a Parler story, or is it just a tongue in cheek claim?

my sarcasm radar is in need of serious repair, doesn't seem to be functioning at all lately.

[Phoenix61]

9. It's not a Parlor story. nt

[FarPoint]

7. I sense you smelled this rat...

[Phoenix61]

8. No it's not.

There is a screen shot on the USPS site about Parlor.

[Scrivener7]

2. Isn't this a little redundant with the 16 US security agencies already doing this?

And what is the Post Office going to do when they find a legitimate threat? Chase us with those little post office trucks?

[sprinkleeninow]

13. "Chase us..."

Ha!

[Scrivener7]

14. .

[DURHAM D]

4. LOL

[Phoenix61]

10. Considering the USPS sends people out everyday

everywhere it’s not ridiculous to think they have a vested interest in knowing if there’s going to be a problem. Considering who’s in charge not surprising he’s not trusting another agency to notify them in a timely manner if there’s a problem.

[MineralMan]

11. I question this entire story.

Its sourcing is questionable.

The USPS does, no doubt, keep an eye on upcoming protests. Mail carriers and other employees need to be informed if there are protests which will be taking place where they might be working. However, I doubt very much that there is constant monitoring of social media looking for such things.

More likely, the USPS is informed by other agencies of potential issues caused by protests. I have no idea who the "reporter" is who wrote this story, but it smells funny, sort of like my dog's farts do.

[superpatriotman]

12. It took USPS two weeks to deliver a first-class letter one town over

This reeks of the Q-type BS being force-fed by self-important busybodies struggling to remain relevant when they have no other means of support.

[TwilightZone]

15. As others have noted, doesn't pass the smell test.

The original source is Yahoo News and the story doesn't pass the smell test as many have noted.

It's not a secret program, for one. Yahoo doesn't seem to understand that "Covert" is part of the name of the organization, not an attempt to hide its existence. It was covered in the USPIS's 2019 Annual Report.

https://www.uspis.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2019AR.pdf