Briefs

January 5, 2004 , By William New, National Journal's Technology Daily

A December report by the Defense Department's independent watchdog on the now-defunct Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) data-mining project has begun the new year with a discussion of privacy issues.

The report said the TIA technology once being developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) could have been valuable against terrorism but would have required specific steps to address privacy concerns.

"A review of the TIA program ... showed that although the TIA technology could prove valuable in combating terrorism, DARPA could have better addressed the sensitivity of the technology to minimize the possibility of any governmental abuse of power," the Dec. 12 report of Defense's inspector general said. "And [it] could have assisted in the successful transition of the technology into the operational environment."

The report recommended that the Defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, in coordination with DARPA's director, assess the privacy impact "before TIA-type technology research continues." The report also called for a "privacy ombudsman or equivalent official" specifically for the development of TIA-type technology.

The IG report is not the final word on TIA. A congressionally mandated technology and privacy advisory group examining the project is preparing a report that is "likely to be more significant," Sobel said.

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