| ID | 093778 |
| Title Proper | Emerging politics of DHS fusion centers |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Monahan, Torin ; Palmer, Neal A |
| Publication | 2009. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article explores public concerns about the US Department of Homeland Security's data 'fusion centers'. These centers, which are proliferating across all US states, coordinate data-sharing among state and local police, intelligence agencies, and private companies. The primary goal of fusion centers is to engage in intelligence-sharing for counter-terrorism purposes. However, they have been used for a variety of other purposes, such as basic policing, spying on social movement organizations, or restricting legal public activities such as taking photographs. Drawing upon a comprehensive analysis of media publications from 2002 to 2008, we identify and discuss three primary categories of concern with fusion centers: (1) their ineffectiveness, particularly given the financial expense, the statistical unlikelihood of terrorist attacks, and the pressing need for other law enforcement support; (2) the potential for mission creep, where the functions of fusion centers expand beyond their originally intended purposes to encompass things like all-hazards preparedness; and (3) the violation of civil liberties, especially through racial profiling or First Amendment violations. |
| `In' analytical Note | Security Dialogue Vol. 40, No. 6; Dec 2009: p.617-636 |
| Journal Source | Security Dialogue Vol. 40, No. 6; Dec 2009: p.617-636 |
| Key Words | Fusion Centers ; Department of Homeland Security ; Mission Creep ; Surveillance ; Media ; Counter - Terrorism ; Privacy |