[mobglob-discuss] U.S. recruiting vast pool of snitches.

[Macdonald Stainsby]

Globe and Mail. 16 July 2002.  U.S. recruiting vast pool of snitches.

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is hoping to recruit one million
potential informants by next month for the first stage of a
counterterrorism measure that has civil-liberties advocates appalled.

In time, as many as 4 per cent of Americans could be spying on their
neighbours, a proportion that would exceed even the network set up by
the former East Germany's notorious Stasi spy-service.

The Terrorism Information and Prevention System (Operation TIPS) will
use letter-carriers, utility workers and others who normally have access
to private homes to keep watch on suspicious characters in 10 U.S.
cities, which have not been disclosed.

Operation TIPS will give these volunteer watchers a channel through
which to pass their concerns to the Justice Department, who will
consolidate any information gathered in a widely available database. The
information will be accessible within the department as well as by state
and local agencies and state police forces.

The American Civil Liberties Union has "questioned the prudence" of the
idea in an alarmed statement, saying that law-enforcement officials
might use these informants to conduct what amount to warrantless
searches of suspects' homes.

"The administration apparently wants to implement a program that will
turn local cable or gas or electrical technicians into
government-sanctioned peeping toms," said Rachel King, an ACLU lawyer.

Critics argue that, far from defending America's freedoms, such programs
subvert them -- and they warn that the dangers could go beyond
constitutional violations.

"Snitching creates a culture in which every encounter between two
citizens is mediated by authority: Big Brother is always in the room
with you," warned YellowTimes columnist Gabriel Ash.

"And even if it isn't, you have to behave as if it is."

"Snitching creates a culture of paranoia. It isolates people, breaks
down social solidarity, and prevents exchange of information between
members of society. Everyone becomes obsessed with watching their own
back. Nobody is a friend. Nobody can be trusted."




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Macdonald Stainsby
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