Executive TL;DR:
- Amazon, Facebook, and the FBI have access to a private intelligence-sharing network.
- The network aims to identify and prevent potential acts of terrorism.
- Some organizations have stopped working with the network, citing concerns over its activities.
The Buzz Score
The Internet’s Verdict: 70% Hyped, 30% Skeptical
Forum Voices
Some users have expressed surprise at the variety of organizations involved in the network.
> For instance, the Church of Scientology, U.S. Navy, and the Washington State Military Department told Prism that they are no longer working with the network. That first one took me by surprise. What a random hodgepodge of organizations.
The Seattle Shield website states that its mission is to provide a collaborative environment between the Seattle Police Department and public/private partners.
> The Seattle Shield website states that its mission “is to provide a collaborative and information-sharing environment between the Seattle Police Department and public/private partners in the Seattle area. Seattle Shield members assist Seattle Police Department efforts to identify, deter, defeat or mitigate potential acts of terrorism by reporting suspicious activity in a timely manner.”
Users are advised to be aware of the network’s activities and consider the implications of working with these companies.
> Reminder if you work for any of these companies you are actively enabling this. If your first reaction is doubt, deflection, rationalization or discomfort, there are ways out.
Focus Keyword: Private Intel