General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: My Life in Circles: Why Metadata is Incredibly Intimate [View all]Pholus
(4,062 posts)Silly, NSA isn't going to tell you what they're doing. That's why they created these things called "secrets" and prosecute people who actually say what's going on.
It's like you haven't been paying attention or something. Network analysis is the new magic word in military applications, especially COIN activities. You have to know who is a threat, you have to know who to take out to cripple enemy activities.
How did we combat roadside bombers? Network analysis:
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/03/131755378/u-s-connects-the-dots-to-catch-roadside-bombers
How did we catch Saddam? Network analysis:
http://www.asanet.org/footnotes/julyaugust05/fn3.html
How do we fight insurgencies? Network analysis:
http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/07summer/reed.pdf
How do you locate terror cells? Network analysis:
http://globalsecuritystudies.com/Minor%20Nodes%20Final.pdf
What does US phone metadata do? Allow you to map the network of connections in the US for Network Analysis.
Where it gets creepy, though is this:
How do you influence public opinion? Network analysis:
http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/I2O/Programs/Social_Media_in_Strategic_Communication_%28SMISC%29.aspx
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/07/darpa-wants-social-media-sensor-for-propaganda-ops/
Remember, Bush (and the current administration) maintain that domestic propaganda is allowed
http://mediabloodhound.typepad.com/weblog/2009/09/senior-official-in-bush-domestic-propaganda-program-remains-obamas-pentagon-spokesman.html