I recently came across an article on CNN.com about how CIA spies are now going to have their own social network site for sharing secrets. In an article by Larry Shaughnessy, “CIA, FBI push ‘Facebook for spies’ ” (http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/09/05/facebook.spies/index.html?iref=newssearch) we learn that bosses from the CIA, FBI, and the National Security Agency are now encouraging their staff members to use a new social-networking site called A-Space. This social networking site is going to be used for the secret world of spying. It's a social-networking site that was created for analysts that are within the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. "This is going to give them for the first time a chance to think out loud, think in public amongst their peers, under the protection of an A-Space umbrella," said Michael Wertheimer, assistant deputy director of national intelligence for analysis.
The primary purpose of A-Space is to protect the United States by evaluating all the information that is available to the spy agencies. These social networking sites will not be available for the general public; the information on it will be highly classified. “Only intelligence personnel with the proper security clearance, and a reason to be examining particular information, can access the site.” The members of A-Space can have a lot of “friends” just like on Facebook or Myspace. But if you are not a part of the intelligence agency you are not allowed to become a member of this A-Space social networking group.
I think this is a very interesting concept. It gives these members the ability to share secrets back in forth about things going on within the CIA. It can be beneficial if they are able to work together discussing their cases by talking to each other on this site. They are able to log information like missing emails and share it with their fellow analysts. For example as Shaughnessy stated in his article, “Missing crucial data can have enormous implications, such as an FBI agent who sent an e-mail before September 11, 2001, warning of people learning to fly airplanes but not learning to land them.”
Source: CNN.com
6 comments:
I think this is a really cool idea. But kind of like a little kids dream you know? Like ooo when I grow up I want to be a spy because they chat it up on the internet!
True, it definitely will help to spread information much more easier within the different departments; however with the amount of hackers out there I would be most worried about somebody trying to hack into our website to try and steal information from us.
And who is to say that there wouldn't be cyberbulling in the workplace online? If it definitely happens on social networking sites, why can's it happen on a website with workers fighting for the best position in the field?
I think it is a really cool idea, but that it might need a little more revamping before trying out the idea :)
While I think this idea would be beneficial to their practice, I think it is also very risky. The internet is full of oddly overintelligent hackers who would just love to get in on this website. Knowing the things that may be discussed in this chat room could be their ticket. Hopefully none of them stumble over this article, it will be posted in the hackers anonymous (if there is one!) chat room faster than we can blink!
I think this is kind of a good idea because it makes the exchanging of information faster and easier. The only concern would be information accidently being leaked. But im sure this all was taken into consideration when they decided to create this.
This is a very interesting concept to me. Interesting, but very risky. I'm sure that the CIA has the best computer specialists on thier side, but I'm sure that they are people out there that can hack into thier site easily. Also, wouldn't you think that the CIA wouldn't want this published online!?
CIA using a social networking type of scheme to communicate does sound cool. I'm sure they feel so important being able to do so but just as people can hack into every other social networking site, they could do the same with this one! I just feel that some things should stay traditional, maybe I'm just old school!
The idea of hackers getting into something like this is what scares most of us. My question though is tha the intent of the networking site? Is it intended to find leaks within our goverment or alos help to track those that are hacking into our computer systems. Because as we all know the purpose of facebook is to creep and keep tabs on what is going on with those around us wihtout their knowledge.
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