IP: DOJ responds to TIPS criticism (Was: more on one in 24 Americans as citizen spies - the REST of the story!)

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Sorry it still sounds to me like it cOULD lead to the Joe McCarthy days and
other out of US equivalents. Djf


------ Forwarded Message
From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:14:24 -0400
To: farber () cis upenn edu


At 03:43 PM 7/16/2002 -0400, Dave Farber forwarded from Jim Warren:
> Sheesh!  Someone who wants law enforcement to be ACCOUNTABLE?!  Geee
> ... maybe Aussies are waaaay more liberal than is their reputation.
> ;-)


Here's the Justice Department's official response, released a few minutes
ago...

-Declan

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAG
TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2002
(202) 514-2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
TDD (202) 514-1888


STATEMENT OF BARBARA COMSTOCK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
REGARDING THE TIPS PROGRAM

"First and foremost, Operation TIPS is a program under development, and its
blueprint is not yet finalized.  The Operation TIPS reporting system was
announced in concept six months ago, and we look forward to its rollout in
the late summer or early fall.

"Operation TIPS is simply a reporting system - not a membership
organization or recruiting activity - based upon successful existing
non-governmental programs like Highway Watch, River Watch and Coast Watch,
which enable American workers to report unusual and non-emergency issues
that they observe in the normal course of their work.  Several of these
industries have requested a uniform method of reporting such matters to
public authorities.

"The industries that will be involved in Operation TIPS represent workers
who have regular routines that take them down roads, rivers, coastlines,
and public transit routes, and through neighborhoods and
communities.  Their jobs make them uniquely well positioned to understand
the ordinary course of business in the area they serve, and to identify
things that are out of the ordinary.  Many of these industries already have
taken steps to offer their employees a voluntary way to report this type of
information, but they are looking to the Department of Justice to offer a
comprehensive, reliable and cost-effective voluntary reporting
system.  Operation TIPS is that voluntary reporting system through which
information can be maintained and analyzed in a single database, and will
be referred to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for
appropriate follow-up.

"None of the Operation TIPS materials published on the web or elsewhere
have made reference to entry or access to the homes of individuals; nor has
it ever been the intention of the Department of Justice, or any other
agency, to set up such a program.  Our interest in establishing the
Operation TIPS program is to allow American workers to share information
they receive in the regular course of their jobs in public places and
areas.  Once they report the information, they can rest assured that law
enforcement officials will be taking any appropriate next steps."

02-405


------ End of Forwarded Message

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