The American Dream Research Paper - 1756 Words

Riley Caswell Mr. Sheedlo English 2B 20 April 2015 American Dream Research Paper 1.Introduction to the American Dream The American Dream has influenced the hopes and future of many Americans. One person’s dream will not be the same as another, because dreams are like snowflakes, there’s never two that are exactly alike. â€Å"... each person has the right to pursue happiness- not a self-indulgence, but as fair ambition and creative drive† (American RadioWorks- A Better Life). Many people may have a harder path to achieve their dream, but with hard work and their ability to freely pursue opportunity they will make a better life for themselves. In previous years there has been economic problems that may have impacted many people lives, for example the civil rights act, women’s rights, and gender equality. Many people still question if this concept is still available for everybody, if it was even real, and if it is will it exist for future generations. In this paper, it will help you understand the history and how it originated, American Dream in literature, complications and the interference that it may have, and the recurring question, is the American Dream dead or alive? 2. The American Dream in U.S. History The American Dream has changed and grown from 1776 to present day in many ways. In the United States, we believe that people should freely pursue opportunity. With hard work and dedication they will make a better life for themselves and their family. The American DreamShow MoreRelatedInstructional Goals For Students With Writing Assignments1230 Words   |  5 PagesThese three goals, which align with the Common Core State Standards, are challenging but attainable for Student A. To help Student A craft a strong claim statement, I provided her with several examples of claim statements for The Great Gatsby American Dream Essay. We discussed what makes these examples strong and identified the elements that make up an effective claim statement. The essay was broken into five steps: create a claim, find five pieces of evidence from the text to support the claim,Read MoreThe Dream Act Of The United States891 Words   |  4 PagesImmigrants DREAM Act. Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2016. The Dream Act is on foreign immigrants that want to have the opportunity to come to America for a better education. Discussing the Dream Act’s history background and how it is affecting people in today’s society. According to â€Å"Dream Act† states, â€Å"In the following years, however, a rising number of states passed their own programs that reflected goals of DREAM, particularlyRead MoreMy Day Of High School886 Words   |  4 Pagesable to express myself on paper. 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In theRead MoreCensorship: How It Would Restrict the Average American from Living the Life They Deserve1099 Words   |  4 PagesIn what ways has censorship played a role in changing the conceptions of the American Dream? First let’s start by clarifying what the American Dream actually is. Deepening the American Dream is a â€Å"project that engenders a rediscovered sense of community in our society and empowers our capacities to receive and relate to those we think of as other† (fetzer.org). Censorship has played way too many roles in messing with the way people think. One way is through the media. Censorship in the media is aRead MoreAmerica: the Melting Pot?1342 Words   |  6 Pagesthe world. Now our country is being faced with peop le trying to come here illegally and it is creating an argument between legal citizens. Do we allow these people to come here and make their dreams real like our ancestors did, or do we take every measure we can to keep them out? While doing research I found that there are many people who are very against illegal immigration. They believe that the people who wish to become citizens need to go through a very vigorous process to gain citizenshipRead MoreHomeownership Of The United States1070 Words   |  5 Pagesfollowing the housing market crash? Are people still weary of the financial responsibility in a still uncertain American economy? Or are some critics right, is homeownership culture changing, are Americans giving up on the America Dream? Strictly by the Numbers: How Bad is it? First, what we do know: The U.S. Census Bureau has been collecting quarterly homeownership rates since 1965 with the American Community Survey (ACS), which is updated every year by the bureau. The ACS is the short-form of the decennialRead MoreThe Epic Of America By James Truslow Adams1533 Words   |  7 Pages In James Truslow Adams’ The Epic of America, the American dream is defined as an egalitarian ideology in which â€Å"life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.† Established by an inherently advantaged Anglo American in an era of burgeoning racism, the American dream was and is still believed to provide equal opportunity for all, including minorities who, despite their onerous struggle against discrimination at the hands ofRead MoreThe American Dream1246 Words   |  5 PagesSharing Is Caring, So Don’t Be Stingy America The American dream is the ideal that every citizen of the United States can have an equal opportunity to achieve success by prospering through hard work, determination, and initiative. This concept has become an iconic part of American culture, and has led many immigrants to seek refuge under Lady Liberty. Therefore, living the American Dream can be obtained by anyone, regardless of race, gender, social status, or economic wealth, right? UnfortunatelyRead MoreWhat Is The Adaptation Of The Great Gatsby895 Words   |  4 PagesMy purpose in writing this paper is to explain differences between movie adaptations, and the book The Great Gatsby. I will examine major differences such as setting, soundtrack, and wardrobe choices. In addition, I will discuss character developments in both the two movie revisions I have chosen, and the book. Furthermore, I plan to explain oxymorons used throughout the plot of the story, and how they were manipulated in films. This is important because many do not understand the deeper meaning

Stereotypes And Stereotypes Of African Americans Essay

African Americans have been represented in the media with harmful stereotypes which were founded in the slavery era (Cartier, 2014)(Carpenter, 2012). This negative representation invites bias from those who accept the images, the distortion of which is accentuated by both sexism and racism. Black women are the least represented group in cinema, making it easier to rely on stereotypes which encourage societal bias. From these stereotypes, like the Jezebel and Sapphire, stem the â€Å"real world† stereotypes of the welfare queen and the crack mother (Carpenter, 2012), showing that media portrayals have shaped public perception regarding black women. While certain genres have seen a rise in portrayals of diversity, overall Hollywood as an industry remains unchanged, inaccurately representing minorities (Smith et al., 2016). For centuries African American women have been underrepresented and misrepresented by the media (Carpenter, 2012). Stereotypical representations have negative ly affected the way society sees and relates to black women, as well as their own self perceptions and identities (Brown, White-Johnson, and Griffin-Fennell, 2013). The media is responsible for bias and stereotyping in its portrayal of underrepresented groups in society. The dissection of these stereotypes, statistical analysis of black representation in film, and modern depictions in cinema and television will help to prove the harm misrepresentations are capable of. Ideas of black inferiority date backShow MoreRelatedStereotypes And Stereotypes Of African Americans1909 Words   |  8 Pagesstereotyping. Stereotypes are cognitive structures that contain the perceiver s knowledge, beliefs, and expectations about human groups (Green). Stereotypes have been proven to affect young adolescents. Media depicts African Americans in stereotypical ways that negatively affect self-esteem, therefore all media outlets should display African Americans in a more realistic and rational way. The type of prejudice that affects African Americans the most is based on racial grounds. Racial stereotypes are â€Å"constructedRead MoreStereotypes And Stereotypes Of African Americans1217 Words   |  5 PagesStereotypes seem to be very present in our country, especially stereotypes towards African-Americans. For the longest time, like it has been instilled as a fact in my brain, black people have been directly related to the words â€Å"ghetto† or â€Å"hood†. I don’t remember a time where I actually can remember the words â€Å"ghetto† or â€Å"hood† without the picture in my mind of an African-American person. I think that this is a big problem in today’s society because it is not true but still seems to be taught. 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Ever since the minstrelsy shows the negative stereotypes of African Americans seem to keep growing. According to the book Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks, â€Å"in almostRead MoreAfrican-American Ste reotypes935 Words   |  4 Pagesand The Help, the portrayals of African-Americans reinforce established racial stereotypes. Dorcas and the prostitutes represent the jezebel; the absent male is viewed and reinforced through the perspectives of Violet, Golden Gray, and even Minny; Aibileen and Minny represent the mammies, and in a way, Jim is Huck’s mammy too. While there are instances in all four novels of characters challenging stereotypes, these characters primarily reinforce racial stereotypes. The jezebel represents a femaleRead MoreAfrican American Stereotypes1256 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican American IAT George, Janel A: Stereotype and School Pushout: Race, Gender, and Discipline Disparities DESCRIPTION: George focuses on implicit bias largely in the educational sector and how that effects African Americans with the emphasis on specifically the black female. Educationally facilities tend to apply restrictions regarding disciplines on a sort of equality across the board basis; however, the failure of recognition is that this method is not effective and results in long term psychologicalRead MoreAfrican American Stereotypes. Paper1208 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican American Stereotypes Ivory Marvin A stereotype is a popular belief about specific types of individuals. Stereotypes are standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions. African Americans have been perceived to be someone they are not in the media, history, and in everyday life. Although some stereotypes are true, many are harmful and inaccurate. African American stereotypes are generalizations about the behavior of African Americans originated mainlyRead MoreThe Stereotypes Of African American Females Essay1575 Words   |  7 PagesStereotypes are instilled in us at a young age by our previous experiences and by our parents. Whether they are positive or negative, African American females have to deal with these on a daily basis. Stereotypes often influence the way people view themselves and the way others view them. These are represented in American media, such as commercials and other advertisements. Reflection on Experience After watching one hundred commercials, I found that African American females are represented inRead MoreStereotypes And Generalizations Of African Americans1534 Words   |  7 Pagesinception, the negative stereotypes and generalizations of African Americans have been some of the worst examples of racism that has been extremely prevalent in American culture. African American stereotypes date back all the way to colonial American times, where African American slavery was considered to be accepted and practiced. Since then, black people in America have been treated horribly for stereotypes that have deep roots in the mistreatment of black people in American history. An example ofRead MoreAfrican American Stereotypes in the Media1396 Words   |  6 PagesJakaya McCambry 10/02/12 African American Stereotypes in the Media When I first heard someone say, â€Å"All African American people are Ghetto,† I was very offended that someone would make this type of assumption about my culture, and I thought how ignorant this person must be; but then I stopped and wondered why other people would think this about us. I asked her why she would say something like this, and she instantly listed shows like Tosh.O and Chelsea Lately, which highlight my culture in a

Alibaba Swot free essay sample

Alibaba. com, the world’s largest ecommerce organization, is one that generates income from influencing business to buy and sell through their site.   Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ It has a reputation of success and effective growth strategies †¢ Strong alliances and partnerships with leaders in the industry. †¢ A strong whole in the Global Marketplace. †¢ A international organizational structure †¢ A bold risk taking sprit.|†¢ Labor intensive. †¢ Low degree of business e-commerce search technology. †¢ Large Chinese cultural influence. Brand recognition is low. †¢ Profitably is slowing. | Threats – T | †¢ China’s Google and the strength of the vertical sites. †¢ Growth of China’s ecommerce industry. †¢ Global Economic crisis. †¢ Development of a more competitive technology Opportunities – O | Possibility for growth in profits. †¢ Large untapped market potential. †¢ Market share possibility in the US 1999 | Alibaba Group was established | 2000 | Launched the Gold Supplier membership to serve exporters in China. | 2001 | Launched the International TrustPass membership to serve exporters outside China. 2002 |Launched the TrustPass membership to serve SMEs engaging in domestic China trade. We will write a custom essay sample on Alibaba Swot or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page | Launched keyword ranking services in the international marketplace.   2003 |Launched TradeManager Instant Messenger software for easy communication.   2004 | Established Ali-Institute to offer customer training and higher-education e-commerce certification in China. | 2005 | Launched keyword ranking services on the China marketplace. | 2007 | Launched branded advertisements in the Chinese marketplace.Introduced the Gold Supplier membership to Hong Kong. | 2007 Launched premium placement display in the Chinese marketplace. Launched an SME financing scheme in collaboration with leading banks in China. | Successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.   Re-launched our upgraded Alibaba Japan marketplace. | 2008 | Became a constituent stock of Hang Seng Composite Index Series and Hang Seng Freefloat Index Series. | Launched Winport to help SMEs build their own presence in the China marketplace.   Formed an associated company, Alibaba Japan, with Softbank to take over the operation of the Japanese marketplace.   Launched the China TrustPass for Individuals membership to serve entrepreneurs engaging in domestic China trade.

Overview of the Data Mining free essay sample

Order Code RL31798 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Data Mining: An Overview Updated December 16, 2004 Jeffrey W. Seifert Analyst in Information Science and Technology Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Congressional Research Service ? The Library of Congress Data Mining: An Overview Summary Data mining is emerging as one of the key features of many homeland security initiatives. Often used as a means for detecting fraud, assessing risk, and product retailing, data mining involves the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets. In the context of homeland security, data mining is often viewed as a potential means to identify terrorist activities, such as money transfers and communications, and to identify and track individual terrorists themselves, such as through travel and immigration records. While data mining represents a significant advance in the type of analytical tools currently available, there are limitations to its capability. One limitation is that although data mining can help reveal patterns and relationships, it does not tell the user the value or significance of these patterns. These types of determinations must be made by the user. A second limitation is that while data mining can identify connections between behaviors and/or variables, it does not necessarily identify a causal relationship. To be successful, data mining still requires skilled technical and analytical specialists who can structure the analysis and interpret the output that is created. Data mining is becoming increasingly common in both the private and public sectors. Industries such as banking, insurance, medicine, and retailing commonly use data mining to reduce costs, enhance research, and increase sales. In the public sector, data mining applications initially were used as a means to detect fraud and waste, but have grown to also be used for purposes such as measuring and improving program performance. However, some of the homeland security data mining applications represent a significant expansion in the quantity and scope of data to be analyzed. Two efforts that have attracted a higher level of congressional interest include the Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) project (now-discontinued) and the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System II (CAPPS II) project (nowcanceled and replaced by Secure Flight). As with other aspects of data mining, while technological capabilities are important, there are other implementation and oversight issues that can influence the success of a project’s outcome. One issue is data quality, which refers to the accuracy and completeness of the data being analyzed. A second issue is the interoperability of the data mining software and databases being used by different agencies. A third issue is mission creep, or the use of data for purposes other than for which the data were originally collected. A fourth issue is privacy. Questions that may be considered include the degree to which government agencies should use and mix commercial data with government data, whether data sources are being used for purposes other than those for which they were originally designed, and possible application of the Privacy Act to these initiatives. It is anticipated that congressional oversight of data mining projects will grow as data mining efforts continue to evolve. This report will be updated as events warrant. Contents What is Data Mining? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Limitations of Data Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Data Mining Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS II) . . . . . . . . . 7 Data Mining Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Data Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Interoperability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Mission Creep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Legislation in the 108th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 For Further Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Data Mining: An Overview What is Data Mining? Data mining involves the use of sophisticated data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets. These tools can include statistical models, mathematical algorithms, and machine learning methods (algorithms that improve their performance automatically through experience, such as neural networks or decision trees). Consequently, data mining consists of more than collecting and managing data, it also inc ludes analysis and prediction. Data mining can be performed on data represented in quantitative, textual, or multimedia forms. Data mining applications can use a variety of parameters to examine the data. They include association (patterns where one event is connected to another event, such as purchasing a pen and purchasing paper), sequence or path analysis (patterns where one event leads to another event, such as the birth of a child and purchasing diapers), classification (identification of new patterns, such as coincidences between duct tape purchases and plastic sheeting purchases), clustering (finding and visually documenting groups of previously unknown facts, such as geographic location and brand preferences), and forecasting (discovering patterns from which one can make reasonable predictions regarding future activities, such as the prediction that people who join an athletic club may take exercise classes). As an application, compared to other data analysis applications, such as structured queries (used in many commercial databases) or statistical analysis software, data mining represents a difference of kind rather than degree. Many simpler analytical tools utilize a verifi cation-based approach, where the user develops a hypothesis and then tests the data to prove or disprove the hypothesis. For example, a user might hypothesize that a customer who buys a hammer, will also buy a box of nails. The effectiveness of this approach can be limited by the creativity of the user to develop various hypotheses, as well as the structure of the software being used. In contrast, data mining utilizes a discovery approach, in which algorithms can be used to examine several multidimensional data relationships simultaneously, identifying those that are unique or frequently represented. For example, a hardware store may compare their customers’ tool purchases with home ownership, type of automobile driven, age, occupation, income, and/or distance between residence and Two Crows Corporation, Introduction to Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Third Edition (Potomac, MD: Two Crows Corporation, 1999); Pieter Adriaans and Dolf Zantinge, Data Mining (New York: Addison Wesley, 1996). For a more technically-oriented definition of data mining, [http://searchcrm. echtarget. com/gDefinition/0,294236,sid11_gci211901,00. html]. 2 1 see CRS-2 the store. As a result of its complex capabilities, two precursors are important for a successful data mining exercise; a clear formulation of the problem to be solved, and access to the relevant data. 3 Reflecting t his conceptualization of data mining, some observers consider data mining to be just one step in a larger process known as knowledge discovery in databases (KDD). Other steps in the KDD process, in progressive order, include data cleaning, data integration, data selection, data transformation, (data mining), pattern evaluation, and knowledge presentation. A number of advances in technology and business processes have contributed to a growing interest in data mining in both the public and private sectors. Some of these changes include the growth of computer networks, which can be used to connect databases; the development of enhanced search-related techniques such as neural networks and advanced algorithms; the spread of the client/server computing model, allowing users to access centralized data resources from the desktop; and an increased ability to combine data from disparate sources into a single searchable source. 5 In addition to these improved data management tools, the increa sed availability of information and the decreasing costs of storing it have also played a role. Over the past several years there has been a rapid increase in the volume of information collected and stored, with some observers suggesting that the quantity of the world’s data approximately doubles every year. 6 At the same time, the costs of data storage have decreased significantly from dollars per megabyte to pennies per megabyte. Similarly, computing power has continued to double every 18-24 months, while the relative cost of computing power has continued to decrease. 7 Data mining has become increasingly common in both the public and private sectors. Organizations use data mining as a tool to survey customer information, reduce fraud and waste, and assist in medical research. However, the proliferation of data mining has raised some implementation and oversight issues as well. These include concerns about the quality of the data being analyzed, the interoperability of the databases and software between agencies, and potential infringements on privacy. Also, there are some concerns that the limitations of data mining are being overlooked as agencies work to emphasize their homeland security initiatives. 3 John Makulowich, â€Å"Government Data Mining Systems Defy Definition,† Washington Technology, 22 February 1999, [http://www. washingtontechnology. com/news/13_22/tech_ features/393-3. html]. Jiawei Han and Micheline Kamber, Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques (New York: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2001), p. 7. 4 5 Pieter Adriaans and Dolf Zantinge, Data Mining (New York: Addison Wesley, 1996), pp. 5-6. Ibid. , p. 2. Two Crows Corporation, Introduction to Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Third Edition (Potomac, MD: Two Crows Corporation, 1999), p. 4. 6 7 CRS-3 Limitations of Data Mining While data mining products can be very powerful tools, they are not selfsufficient applications. To be successful, data mining requires skilled technical and analytical specialists who can structure the analysis and interpret the output that is created. Consequently, the limitations of data mining are primarily data or personnelrelated, rather than technology-related. 8 Although data mining can help reveal patterns and relationships, it does not tell the user the value or significance of these patterns. These types of determinations must be made by the user. Similarly, the validity of the patterns discovered is dependent on how they compare to â€Å"real world† circumstances. For example, to assess the validity of a data mining application designed to identify potential terrorist suspects in a large pool of individuals, the user may test the model using data that includes information about known terrorists. However, while possibly re-affirming a particular profile, it does not necessarily mean that the application will identify a suspect whose behavior significantly deviates from the original model. Another limitation of data mining is that while it can identify connections between behaviors and/or variables, it does not necessarily identify a causal relationship. For example, an application may identify that a pattern of behavior, such as the propensity to purchase airline tickets just shortly before the flight is scheduled to depart, is related to characteristics such as income, level of education, and Internet use. However, that does not necessarily indicate that the ticket purchasing behavior is caused by one or more of these variables. In fact, the individual’s behavior could be affected by some additional variable(s) such as occupation (the need to make trips on short notice), family status (a sick relative needing care), or a hobby (taking advantage of last minute discounts to visit new destinations). 9 Data Mining Uses Data mining is used for a variety of purposes in both the private and public sectors. Industries such as banking, insurance, medicine, and retailing commonly use data mining to reduce costs, enhance research, and increase sales. For example, the insurance and banking industries use data mining applications to detect fraud and assist in risk assessment (e. g. , credit scoring). Using customer data collected over several years, companies can develop models that predict whether a customer is a good credit risk, or whether an accident claim may be fraudulent and should be investigated more closely. The medical community sometimes uses data mining to help predict the effectiveness of a procedure or medicine. Pharmaceutical firms use data mining of chemical compounds and genetic material to help guide research on new treatments for diseases. Retailers can use information collected through affinity programs (e. g. , shoppers’ club cards, frequent flyer points, contests) to assess the 8 9 Ibid. , p. 2. Ibid. , p. 1. CRS-4 effectiveness of product selection and placement decisions, coupon offers, and which products are often purchased together. Companies such as telephone service providers and music clubs can use data mining to create a â€Å"churn analysis,† to assess which customers are likely to remain as subscribers and which ones are likely to switch to a competitor. 0 In the public sector, data mining applications were initially used as a means to detect fraud and waste, but they have grown also to be used for purposes such as measuring and improving program performance. It has been reported that data mining has helped the federal government recover millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicare payments. 11 The Justice Department has been able to use data mining to assess crime patterns and adjust resource allotments accordingly. Similarly, the Department of Veterans Affairs has used data mining to help predict demographic changes in the constituency it serves so that it can better estimate its budgetary needs. Another example is the Federal Aviation Administration, which uses data mining to review plane crash data to recognize common defects and recommend precautionary measures. 2 Recently, data mining has been increasingly cited as an important tool for homeland security efforts. Some observers suggest that data mining should be used as a means to identify terrorist activities, such as money transfers and communications, and to identify and track individual terrorists themselves, such as through travel and immigration records. Two initiatives that have attracted significant attention include the now-discontinued Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) project13 conducted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the now-canceled Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System II (CAPPS II) that was being developed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). CAPPS II is being replaced by a new program called Secure Flight. Two Crows Corporation, Introduction to Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Third Edition (Potomac, MD: Two Crows Corporation, 1999), p. 5; Patrick Dillon, Data Mining: Transforming Business Data Into Competitive Advantage and Intellectual Capital (Atlanta GA: The Information Management Forum, 1998), pp. 5-6. George Cahlink, â€Å"Data Mining Taps the Trends,† Government Executive Magazine, October 1, 2000, [http://www. govexec. com/tech/articles/1000managetech. htm]. Ibid. ; for a more detailed review of the purpose for data mining conducted by federal departments and agencies, see U. S. General Accounting Office, Data Mining: Federal Efforts Cover a Wide Range of Uses, GAO Report GAO-04-548 (Washington: May 2004). This project was originally identified as the Total Information Awareness project until DARPA publicly renamed it the Terrorism Information Awareness project in May 2003. Section 8131 of the FY2004 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (P. L. 108-87) prohibited further funding of TIA as a whole, while allowing unspecified subcomponents of the TIA initiative to be funded as part of DOD’s classified budget, subject to the provisions of the National Foreign Intelligence Program, which restricts the processing and analysis of information on U. S. citizens. For further details regarding this provision, see CRS Report RL31805 Authorization and Appropriations for FY2004: Defense, by Amy Belasco and Stephen Daggett. 13 12 11 10 CRS-5 Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) Program In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, many questions were raised about the country’s intelligence tools and capabilities, as well as the government’s ability to detect other so-called â€Å"sleeper cells,† if, indeed, they existed. One response to these concerns was the creation of the Information Awareness Office (IAO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)14 in January 2002. The role of IAO was â€Å"in part to bring together, under the leadership of one technical office director, several existing DARPA programs focused on applying information technology to combat terrorist threats. †15 The mission statement for IAO suggested that the emphasis on these technology programs was to â€Å"counter asymmetric threats by achieving total information awareness useful for preemption, national security warning, and national security decision making. †16 To that end, the TIA project was to focus on three specific areas of research, anticipated to be conducted over five years, to develop technologies that would assist in the detection of terrorist groups planning attacks against American interests, both inside and outside the country. The three areas of research and their purposes were described in a DOD Inspector General report as: â€Å"†¦ language translation, data search with pattern recognition and privacy protection, and advanced collaborative and decision support tools. Language translation technology would enable the rapid analysis of foreign languages, both spoken and written, and allow analysts to quickly search the translated materials for clues about emerging threats. The data search, pattern recognition, and privacy protection technologies would permit analysts to search vast quantities of data for patterns that suggest terrorist activity while at the same time controlling access to the data, enforcing laws and policies, and ensuring detection of misuse of the information obtained. The collaborative reasoning and decision support technologies would allow analysts from different agencies to share data. †17 Each part had the potential to improve the data mining capabilities of agencies that adopt the technology. 18 Automated rapid language translation could allow DARPA â€Å"is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense (DOD)† that engages in basic and applied research, with a specific focus on â€Å"research and technology where risk and payoff are both very high and where success may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and missions. † [http://www. darpa. mil/] Department of Defense. 20 May 2003. Report to Congress Regarding the Terrorism Information Awareness Program, Executive Summary, p. 2. Department of Defense. 20 May 2003. Report to Congress Regarding the Terrorism Information Awareness Program, Detailed Information, p. 1 (emphasis added). Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General. 12 December 2003. Information Technology Management: Terrorism Information Awareness Project (D2004033). P. 7. It is important to note that while DARPA’s mission is to conduct research and development on technologies that can be used to address national-level problems, it would (continued ) 18 17 16 15 14 CRS-6 analysts to search and monitor foreign language documents and transmissions more quickly than currently possible. Improved search and pattern recognition technologies may enable more comprehensive and thorough mining of transactional data, such as passport and visa applications, car rentals, driver license renewals, criminal records, and airline ticket purchases. Improved collaboration and decision support tools might facilitate the search and coordination activities being conducted by different agencies and levels of government. 19 In public statements DARPA frequently referred to the TIA program as a research and development project designed to create experimental prototype tools, and that the research agency would only use â€Å"data that is legally available and obtainable by the U. S. Government. †20 DARPA further emphasized that these tools could be dopted and used by other agencies, and that DARPA itself would not be engaging in any actual-use data mining applications, although it could â€Å"support production of a scalable leave-behind system prototype. †21 In addition, so me of the technology projects being carried out in association with the TIA program did not involve data mining. 22 However, the TIA program’s overall emphasis on collecting, tracking, and analyzing data trails left by individuals served to generate significant and vocal opposition soon after John Poindexter made a presentation on TIA at the DARPATech 2002 Conference in August 2002. 23 Critics of the TIA program were further incensed by two administrative aspects of the project. The first involved the Director of IAO, Dr. John M. Poindexter. Poindexter, a retired Admiral, was, until that time, perhaps most well-known for his alleged role in the Iran-contra scandal during the Reagan Administration. His involvement with the program caused many in the civil liberties community to ( continued) not be responsible for the operation of TIA, if it were to be adopted. For more details about the Terrorism Information Awareness program and related information and privacy laws, see CRS Report RL31730, Privacy: Total Information Awareness Programs and Related Information Access, Collection, and Protection Laws, by Gina Marie Stevens, and CRS Report RL31786, Total Information Awareness Programs: Funding, Composition, and Oversight Issues, by Amy Belasco. Department of Defense, DARPA, â€Å"Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s Information Awareness Office and Total Information Awareness Project,† p. 1, [http://www. iwar. org. uk/news-archive/tia/iaotia. pdf]. 21 22 20 19 18 Ibid. , p. 2. Although most of the TIA-related projects did involve some form of data collection, the primary purposes of some of these projects, such as war gaming, language translation, and biological agent detection, were less connected to data mining activities. For a description of these projects, see [http://www. fas. org/irp/agency/dod/poindexter. html]. The text of Poindexter’s presentation is available at [http://www. darpa. mil/DARPATech2002/presentations/iao_pdf/speeches/POINDEXT. pdf]. The slide presentation of Poindexter’s presentation is available at [http://www. darpa. mil/DARPATech2002/presentations/iao_pdf/slides/PoindexterIAO. pdf]. 23 CRS-7 question the true motives behind TIA. 24 The second source of contention involved TIA’s original logo, which depicted an â€Å"all-seeing† eye atop of a pyramid looking down over the globe, accompanied by the Latin phrase scientia est potentia (knowledge is power). 25 Although DARPA eventually removed the logo from its website, it left a lasting impression. The continued negative publicity surrounding the TIA program contributed to the introduction of a number of bills in Congress that eventually led to the program’s dissolution. Among these bills was S. 88, the Data-Mining Moratorium Act of 2003, which, if passed, would have imposed a moratorium on the implementation of data mining under the TIA program by the Department of Defense, as well as any similar program by the Department of Homeland Security. An amendment included in the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (P. L. 108-7) required the Director of Central Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General to submit a joint report to Congress within 90 days providing details about the TIA program. 26 Funding for TIA as a whole was prohibited with the passage of the FY2004 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (P. L. 108-87) in September 2003. However, Section 8131 of the law allowed unspecified subcomponents of the TIA initiative to be funded as part of DOD’s classified budget, subject to the provisions of the National Foreign Intelligence Program, which restricts the processing and analysis of information on U. S. citizens. 27 Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS II) Similar to TIA, the CAPPS II project represented a direct response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. With the images of airliners flying into buildings fresh in people’s minds, air travel was now widely viewed not only as a critically vulnerable terrorist target, but also as a weapon for inflicting larger harm. The CAPPS II initiative was intended to replace the original CAPPS, currently being used. Spurred, in part, by the growing umber of airplane bombings, the existing CAPPS (originally called CAPS) was developed through a grant provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Northwest Airlines, with a prototype Shane Harris, â€Å"Counterterrorism Project Assailed By Lawmakers, Privacy Advocates,† Government Executive Magazine, 25 November 2002, [http://www. govexec. com/dailyfed/1102/112502h1. htm]. The original logo can be found at [http://www. thememoryhole. org/policestate/iaologo. htm]. The report is available at [http://www. eff. org/Privacy/TIA/TIA-report. pdf]. Some of the information required includes spending schedules, likely effectiveness of the program, likely impact on privacy and civil liberties, and any laws and regulations that may need to be changed to fully deploy TIA. If the report had not submitted within 90 days, funding for the TIA program could have been discontinued. For more details regarding this amendment, see CRS Report RL31786, Total Information Awareness Programs: Funding, Composition, and Oversight Issues, by Amy Belasco. For further details regarding this provision, see CRS Report RL31805 Authorization and Appropriations for FY2004: Defense, by Amy Belasco and Stephen Daggett. 27 26 25 24 CRS-8 system tested in 1996. In 1997, other major carriers also began work on screening systems, and, by 1998, most of the U. S. -based airlines had voluntarily implemented CAPS, with the remaining few working toward implementation. 8 Also, during this time, the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security (sometimes referred to as the Gore Commission) released its final report in February 1997. 29 Included in the commission’s report was a recommendation that the United States implement automated passenger profiling for its airports. 30 On April 19, 1999, the FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the security of checked baggage on flights within the United States (docket no. FAA-1999-5536). 31 As part of this still-pending rule, domestic flights would be required to utilize â€Å"the FAA-approved computer-assisted passenger screening (CAPS) system to select passengers whose checked baggage must be subjected to additional security measures. 32 The current CAPPS system is a rule-based system that uses the information provided by the passenger when purchasing the ticket to determine if the passenger fits into one of two categories; â€Å"selectees† requiring additional security screening, and those who do not. CAPPS also compares the passenger name to those on a list of known or suspected terrorists. 33 CAPPS II was described by TSA as â€Å"an enhanced system to confirm the identities of passengers and to identify foreign terrorists or persons with terrorist connections before they can board U. S. aircraft. †34 CAPPS II would have sent information provided by the passenger in the passengers name record (PNR), including full name, address, phone number, and date of birth, to commercial data providers for comparison to authenticate the identity of the passenger. The commercial data provider would have then transmitted a numerical score back to TSA indicating a particular risk level. 35 Passengers with a â€Å"green† score would have undergone â€Å"normal screening,† while passengers with a â€Å"yellow† score would have undergone additional screening. Passengers with a â€Å"red† score would not have been allowed to board the flight, and would have received â€Å"the Department of Transportation, White House Commission on Aviation and Security: The DOT Status Report, February 1998, [http://www. dot. gov/affairs/whcoasas. htm]. The Gore Commission was established by Executive Order 13015 on August 22, 1996, following the crash of TWA flight 800 in July 1996. White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security: Final Report to President Clinton. 12 February 1997. [http://www. fas. org/irp/threat/212fin~1. html]. T h e d o c k e t c a n b e f o u n d o n l i n e [http://dms. dot. gov/search/document. cfm? documentid=57279docketid=5536]. 32 33 3 1 30 29 28 a t Federal Register, 64 (April 19,1999): 19220. U. S. General Accounting Office, Aviation Security: Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System Faces Significant Implementation Challenges, GAO Report GAO-04385, February 2004, pp. 5-6. Transportation Security Administration, â€Å"TSA’s CAPPS II Gives Equal Weight to Privacy, Security,† Press Release, 11 March 2003, [http://www. tsa. gov/public/display? theme=44content=535]. Robert O’Harrow, Jr. , â€Å"Aviation ID System Stirs Doubt,† Washington Post, 14 March 2003, p. A16. 35 34 CRS-9 attention of law enforcement. †36 While drawing on information from commercial databases, TSA had stated that it would not see the actual information used to calculate the scores, and that it would not retain the traveler’s information. TSA had planned to test the system at selected airports during spring 2004. 37 However, CAPPS II encountered a number of obstacles to implementation. One obstacle involved obtaining the required data to test the system. Several high-profile debacles resulting in class-action lawsuits have made the U. S. based airlines very wary of voluntarily providing passenger information. In early 2003, Delta Airlines was to begin testing CAPPS II using its customers’ passenger data at three airports across the country. However, Delta became the target of a vociferous boycott campaign, raising further concerns about CAP PS II generally. 38 In September 2003, it was revealed that JetBlue shared private passenger information in September 2002 with Torch Concepts, a defense contractor, which was testing a data mining application for the U. S. Army. The information shared reportedly included itineraries, names, addresses, and phone numbers for 1. 5 million passengers. 9 In January 2004, it was reported that Northwest Airlines provided personal information on millions of its passengers to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from October to December 2001 for an airline security-related data mining experiment. 40 In April 2004, it was revealed that American Airlines agreed to provide private passenger data on 1. 2 million of its customers to TSA in June 2002, although the information was sent instead to four companies competing to win a contract with TSA. 41 Further instances of data being provided for the purpose of testing CAPPS II were brought to light during a Senate Committee on Government Affairs confirmation hearing on June 23, 2004. In his answers to the committee, the acting director of TSA, David M. Stone, stated that during 2002 and 2003 four airlines; Delta, Continental, America West, and Frontier, and two travel reservation companies; Galileo International and Sabre Holdings, provided passenger records to TSA and/or its contractors. 42 Transportation Security Administration, â€Å"TSA’s CAPPS II Gives Equal Weight to Privacy, Security,† Press Release, 11 March 2003, [http://www. tsa. gov/public/display? theme=44content=535]. Sara Kehaulani Goo, â€Å"U. S. to Push Airlines for Passenger Records,† Washington Post, 12 January 2004, p. A1. 38 39 37 36 The Boycott Delta website is available at [http://www. boycottdelta. org]. Don Phillips, â€Å"JetBlue Apologizes for Use of Passenger Records,† The Washington Post, 20 September 2003, p. E1; Sara Kehaulani Goo, â€Å"TSA Helped JetBlue Share Data, Report Says,† Washington Post, 21 February 2004, p. E1. Sara Kehaulani Goo, â€Å"Northwest Gave U. S. Data on Passengers,† Washington Post,18 January 2004, p. A1. Sara Kehaulani Goo, â€Å"American Airlines Revealed Passenger Data,† Washington Post, 10 April 2004, p. D12. 42 41 40 For the written responses to the committee’s questions, see [http://www. epic. org/privacy/airtravel/stone_answers. pdf]; Sara Kehaulani Goo, â€Å"Agency Got More Airline Records,†Washington Post, 24 June 2004, p. A16. CRS-10 Concerns about privacy protections had also dissuaded the European Union (EU) from providing any data to TSA to test CAPPS II. However, in May 2004, the EU signed an agreement with the United States that would have allowed PNR data for flights originating from the EU to be used in testing CAPPS II, but only after TSA was authorized to use domestic data as well. As part of the agreement, the EU data was to be retained for only three-and-a-half years (unless it is part of a law enforcement action), only 34 of the 39 elements of the PNR were to be accessed by authorities,43 and there were to be yearly joint DHS-EU reviews of the implementation of the agreement. 44 Another obstacle was the perception of mission creep. CAPPS II was originally intended to just screen for high-risk passengers who may pose a threat to safe air travel. However, in an August 1, 2003, Federal Register notice, TSA stated that CAPPS II could also be used to identify individuals with outstanding state or federal arrest warrants, as well as identify both foreign and domestic terrorists (not just foreign terrorists). The notice also states that CAPPS II could be â€Å"linked with the U. S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program† to identify individuals who are in the country illegally (e. g. , individuals with expired visas, illegal aliens, etc. ). 45 In response to critics who cited these possible uses as examples of mission creep, TSA claimed that the suggested uses were consistent with the goals of improving aviation security. 6 Several other concerns had also been raised, including the length of time passenger information was to be retained, who would have access to the information, the accuracy of the commercial data being used to authenticate a passenger’s identity, the creation of procedu res to allow passengers the opportunity to correct data errors in their records, and the ability of the system to detect attempts by individuals to use identity theft to board a plane undetected. In August 2004, TSA announced that the CAPPS II program was being canceled and would be replaced with a new system called Secure Flight. In the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005 (P. L. 108-334), Congress included a provision (Sec. 22) prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for â€Å"deployment or implementation, on other than a test basis,† of CAPPS II, Secure Flight, â€Å"or other follow on/successor programs,† until GAO has certified that such a system has met Some information, such as meal preferences, which could be used to infer religious affiliation, and health considerations will not be made available. Goo, Sara Kehaulani, â€Å"U. S. , EU Will Share Passenger Records,† Washington Post, 29 May 2004, p. A2. Department of Homeland Securit y, â€Å"Fact Sheet: US-EU Passenger Name Record Agreement Signed,† 28 May 2004, [http://www. dhs. gov/dhspublic/display? content=3651]. Federal Register. Vol. 68 No. 148 Friday August 1, 2003. P. 45266; U. S. General Accounting Office, Aviation Security: Challenges Delay Implementation of ComputerAssisted Passenger Prescreening System, GAO Testimony GAO-04-504T, 17 March 2004, p. 17 U. S. General Accounting Office, Aviation Security: Challenges Delay Implementation of Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, GAO Testimony GAO-04-504T, 17 March 2004, p. 17 46 45 44 43 CRS-11 all eight of the privacy requirements enumerated in a February 2004 GAO report,47 can accommodate any unique air transportation needs as it relates to interstate transportation, and that â€Å"appropriate life-cycle cost estimates, and expenditure and program plans exist. † GAO’s certification report is due to Congress no later than March 28, 2005. Data Mining Issues As data mining initiatives continue to evolve, there are several issues Congress may decide to consider related to implementation and oversight. These issues include, but are not limited to, data quality, interoperability, mission creep, and privacy. As with other aspects of data mining, while technological capabilities are important, other factors also influence the success of a project’s outcome. Data Quality Data quality is a multifaceted issue that represents one of the biggest challenges for data mining. Data quality refers to the accuracy and completeness of the data. Data quality can also be affected by the structure and consistency of the data being analyzed. The presence of duplicate records, the lack of data standards, the timeliness of updates, and human error can significantly impact the effectiveness of the more complex data mining techniques, which are sensitive to subtle differences that may exist in the data. To improve data quality, it is sometimes necessary to â€Å"clean† the data, which can involve the removal of duplicate records, normalizing the values used to represent information in the database (e. g. , ensuring that â€Å"no† is represented as a 0 throughout the database, and not sometimes as a 0, sometimes as a N, etc. ), accounting for missing data points, removing unneeded data fields, identifying anomalous data points (e. g. , an individual whose age is shown as 142 years), and standardizing data formats (e. g. , changing dates so they all include MM/DD/YYYY). Interoperability Related to data quality, is the issue of interoperability of different databases and data mining software. Interoperability refers to the ability of a computer system and/or data to work with other systems or data using common standards or processes. Interoperability is a critical part of the larger efforts to improve interagency collaboration and information sharing through e-government and homeland security initiatives. For data mining, interoperability of databases and software is important to enable the search and analysis of multiple databases simultaneously, and to help ensure the compatibility of data mining activities of different agencies. Data mining projects that are trying to take advantage of existing legacy databases or that are 47 The eight issues included establishing an oversight board, ensuring the accuracy of the data used, conducting stress testing, instituting abuse prevention practices, preventing unauthorized access, establishing clear policies for the operation and use of the system, satisfying privacy concerns, and created a redress process. U. S. General Accounting Office, Aviation Security: Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System Faces Significant Implementation Challenges, GAO Report GAO-04-385, February 2004. CRS-12 initiating first-time collaborative efforts with other agencies or levels of government (e. g. , police departments in different states) may experience interoperability problems. Similarly, as agencies move forward with the creation of new databases and information sharing efforts, they will need to address interoperability issues during their planning stages to better ensure the effectiveness of their data mining projects. Mission Creep Mission creep is one of the leading risks of data mining cited by civil libertarians, and represents how control over one’s information can be a tenuous proposition. Mission creep refers to the use of data for purposes other than that for which the data was originally collected. This can occur regardless of whether the data was provided voluntarily by the individual or was collected through other means. Efforts to fight terrorism can, at times, take on an acute sense of urgency. This urgency can create pressure on both data holders and officials who access the data. To leave an available resource unused may appear to some as being negligent. Data holders may feel obligated to make any information available that could be used to prevent a future attack or track a known terrorist. Similarly, government officials responsible for ensuring the safety of others may be pressured to use and/or combine existing databases to identify potential threats. Unlike physical searches, or the detention of individuals, accessing information for purposes other than originally intended may appear to be a victimless or harmless exercise. However, such information use can lead to unintended outcomes and produce misleading results. One of the primary reasons for misleading results is inaccurate data. All data collection efforts suffer accuracy concerns to some degree. Ensuring the accuracy of information can require costly protocols that may not be cost effective if the data is not of inherently high economic value. In well-managed data mining projects, the original data collecting organization is likely to be aware of the data’s limitations and account for these limitations accordingly. However, such awareness may not be communicated or heeded when data is used for other purposes. For example, the accuracy of information collected through a shopper’s club card may suffer for a variety of reasons, including the lack of identity authentication when a card is issued, cashiers using their own cards for customers who do not have one, and/or customers who use multiple cards. 48 For the purposes of marketing to consumers, the impact of these inaccuracies is negligible to the individual. If a government agency were to use that information to target individuals based on food purchases associated with particular religious observances though, an outcome based on inaccurate information could be, at the least, a waste of resources by the government agency, and an unpleasant experience for the misidentified individual. As the March 2004 TAPAC report observes, the potential wide reuse of data suggests that concerns about mission creep can extend beyond privacy to the protection of civil rights in the event that information is used for â€Å"targeting an individual solely on the basis of religion or Technology and Privacy Advisory Committee, Department of Defense. Safeguarding Privacy in the Fight Against Terrorism, March 2004, p. 40. 48 CRS-13 expression, or using information in a way that would violate the constitutional guarantee against self-incrimination. †49 Privacy As additional information sharing and data mining initiatives have been announced, increased attention has focused on the implications for privacy. Concerns about privacy focus both on actual projects proposed, as well as concerns about the potential for data mining applications to be expanded beyond their original purposes (mission creep). For example, some experts suggest that anti-terrorism data mining applications might also be useful for combating other types of crime as well. 0 So far there has been little consensus about how data mining should be carried out, with several competing points of view being debated. Some observers contend that tradeoffs may need to be made regarding privacy to ensure security. Other observers suggest that existing laws and regulations regarding privacy protections are adequate, and that these initiatives do not pose any threats to privacy. Still other observers argue that not enough is known about how data mining projects will be carried out, and that greater oversight is needed. There is also some disagreement over how privacy concerns should be addressed. Some observers suggest that technical solutions are adequate. In contrast, some privacy advocates argue in favor of creating clearer policies and exercising stronger oversight. As data mining efforts move forward, Congress may consider a variety of questions including, the degree to which government agencies should use and mix commercial data with government data, whether data sources are being used for purposes other than those for which they were originally designed, and the possible application of the Privacy Act to these initiatives. Legislation in the 108th Congress During the 108th Congress, a number of legislative proposals were introduced that would restrict data mining activities by some parts of the federal government, and/or increase the reporting requirements of such projects to Congress. For example, on January 16, 2003, Senator Feingold introduced S. 188 the Data-Mining Moratorium Act of 2003, which would have imposed a moratorium on the implementation of data mining under the Total Information Awareness program (now referred to as the Terrorism Information Awareness project) by the Department of Defense, as well as any similar program by the Department of Homeland Security. S. 188 was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On January 23, 2003, Senator Wyden introduced S. Amdt. 59, an amendment to H. J. Res. 2, the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2003. As passed in its final form as part of the omnibus spending bill (P. L. 108-7) on February 13, 2003, 49 50 Ibid. , p. 39. Drew Clark, â€Å"Privacy Experts Differ on Merits of Passenger-Screening Program,† Government Executive Magazine, November 21, 2003, [http://www. govexec. com/dailyfed/ 1103/112103td2. htm]. CRS-14 and signed by the President on February 20, 2003, the amendment requires the Director of Central Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General to submit a joint report to Congress within 90 days providing details about the TIA program. 51 Some of the information required includes spending schedules, likely effectiveness of the program, likely impact on privacy and civil liberties, and any laws and regulations that may need to be changed to fully deploy TIA. If the report had not submitted within 90 days, funding for the TIA program could have been discontinued. 52 Funding for TIA was later discontinued in Section 8131 of the FY2004 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (P. L. 108-87), signed into law on September 30, 2003. 53 On March 13, 2003, Senator Wyden introduced an amendment to S. 165 the Air Cargo Security Act, requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress within 90 days providing information about the impact of CAPPS II on privacy and civil liberties. The amendment was passed by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the bill was forwarded for consideration by the full Senate (S. Rept. 108-38). In May 2003, S. 65 was passed by the Senate with the Wyden amendment included and was sent to the House where it was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Funding restrictions on CAPPSII were included in section 519 of the FY2004 Department of Homeland Securi ty Appropriations Act (P. L. 108-90), signed into law October 1, 2003. This provision included restrictions on the â€Å"deployment or implementation, on other than a test basis, of the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPSII),† pending the completion of a GAO report regarding the efficacy, accuracy, and security of CAPPSII, as well as the existence of a system of an appeals process for individuals identified as a potential threat by the system. 4 In its report delivered to Congress in February 2004, GAO reported that â€Å"As of January 1, 2004, TSA has not fully addressed seven of the eight CAPPSII issues identified by the Congress as key areas of interest. †55 The one issue GAO determined that TSA had addressed is the establishment of an internal oversight board. GAO 51 52 The report is available at [http://www. eff. org/Privacy/TIA/TIA-report. pdf]. For more details regarding this amendment, see CRS Report RL31786, Total Information Awareness Progr ams: Funding, Composition, and Oversight Issues, by Amy Belasco. For further details regarding this provision, see CRS Report RL31805 Authorization and Appropriations for FY2004: Defense, by Amy Belasco and Stephen Daggett. Section 519 of P. L. 08-90 specifically identifies eight issues that TSA must address before it can spend funds to deploy or implement CAPPSII on other than a test basis. These include 1. establishing a system of due process for passengers to correct erroneous information; 2. assess the accuracy of the databases being used; 3. stress test the system and demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the search tools; 4. establish and internal oversight board; 5. install operational safeguards to prevent abuse; 6. install security measures to protect against unauthorized access by hackers or other intruders; 7. establish policies for effective oversight of system use and operation; and 8. address any privacy concerns related to the system. General Accounting Office, Aviation Security: Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System Faces Significant Implementation Challenges, GAO-04-385, February 2004, p. 4. 55 54 53 CRS-15 attributed the incomplete progress on these issues partly to the â€Å"early stage of the system’s development. †56 On March 25, 2003, the House Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and the Census held a hearing on the current and future possibilities of data mining. The witnesses, drawn from federal and state government, industry, and academia, highlighted a number of perceived strengths and weaknesses of data mining, as well as the still-evolving nature of the technology and practices behind data mining. 7 While data mining was alternatively described by some witnesses as a process, and by other witnesses as a productivity tool, there appeared to be a general consensus that the challenges facing the future develop ment and success of government data mining applications were related less to technological concerns than to other issues such as data integrity, security, and privacy. On May 6 and May 20, 2003 the Subcommittee also held hearings on the potential opportunities and challenges for using factual data analysis for national security purposes. On July 29, 2003 Senator Wyden introduced S. 1484 The Citizens’ Protection in Federal Databases Act, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Among its provisions, S. 484 would have required the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of Central Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to submit to Congress a report containing information regarding the purposes, type of data, costs, contract durations, research methodologies, and other details before obligating or spending any funds on commercially available databases. S. 1484 would also have set restrictions on the conduct of searches or analysis of databases â€Å"based solely on a hypothetical scenario or hypothetical supposition of who may commit a crime or pose a threat to national security. † On July 31, 2003 Senator Feingold introduced S. 1544 the Data-Mining Reporting Act of 2003, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Among its provisions, S. 544 would have required any department or agency engaged in data mining to submit a public report to Congress regarding these activities. These reports would have been required to include a variety of details about the data mining project, including a description of the technology and data to be used, an assessment of the expected efficacy of the data mining project, a privacy impact assessment, an analysis of the relevant laws and regulations that would govern the project, and a discussion of procedures for informing individuals their personal information will be used and allo wing them to opt out, or an explanation of why such procedures are not in place. Also on July 31, 2003, Senator Murkowski introduced S. 552 the Protecting the Rights of Individuals Act, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 56 57 Ibid. Witnesses testifying at the hearing included Florida State Senator Paula Dockery, Dr. Jen Que Louie representing Nautilus Systems, Inc. , Mark Forman representing OMB, Gregory Kutz representing GAO, and Jeffrey Rosen, an Associate Professor at George Washington University Law School. CRS-16 Among its provisions, section 7 of S. 1552 would have imposed a moratorium on data mining by any federal department or agency â€Å"except pursuant to a law specifically authorizing such data-mining program or activity by such department or agency. It also would have required The head of each department or agency of the Federal Government that engages or plans to engage in any activities relating to the development or use of a datamining program or activity shall submit to Congress, and make available to the public, a report on such activities. On May 5, 2004, Representative McDermott introduced H. R. 4290 the DataMining Reporting Act of 2004, which was referred to the House Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and the Census. H. R. 4290 would have required each department or agency of the Federal Government that is engaged in any activity or use or develop data-mining technology shall each submit a public report to Congress on all such activities of the department or agency under the jurisdiction of that official. A similar provision was included in H. R. 4591/S. 528 the Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004. S. 2528 was introduced by Senator Kennedy on June 16, 2004 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. H. R. 4591 was introduced by Representative Berman on June 16, 2004 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Permanent Select C ommittee on Intelligence. For Further Reading CRS Report RL32597, Information Sharing for Homeland Security: A Brief Overview, by Harold C. Relyea and Jeffrey W. Seifert. CRS Report RL31408, Internet Privacy: Overview and Pending Legislation, by Marcia S. Smith. CRS Report RL30671, Personal Privacy Protection: The Legislative Response, by Harold C. Relyea. Archived. CRS Report RL31730, Privacy: Total Information Awareness Programs and Related Information Access, Collection, and Protection Laws, by Gina Marie Stevens. CRS Report RL31786, Total Information Awareness Programs: Funding, Composition, and Oversight Issues, by Amy Belasco. DARPA, Report to Congress Regarding the Terrorism Information Awareness Program, May 20, 2003, [http://www. eff. org/Privacy/TIA/TIA-report. pdf]. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Information Technology Management: Terrorism Information Awareness Program (D-2004-033), December 12, 2003, [http://www. dodig. osd. mil/audit/reports/FY04/04-033. pdf].