AP Exclusive: Despite privacy worries, more states eying anti-crime database

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2004 12:08:07 -0500
From: Frank Bajak <FBAJAK () ap org>
Subject: AP Exclusive: Despite privacy worries,
 more states eying anti-crime database
To: dave () farber net

Dave,

We weighed on the Matrix with out latest yesterday ...

-fb

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AP Exclusive: Despite privacy worries, more states eying anti-crime
database
January 31, 2004, 4:23 PM


NEW YORK (AP) -- Although privacy worries led several states to pull out
of a federally funded crime and terrorism database project, others are
actively considering joining and thereby sharing information on their
citizens, The Associated Press has learned.

Mark Zadra, chief investigator for Florida state police, which runs the
Matrix project, said organizers have given presentations to more than 10
Northeastern and Midwestern states in recent weeks, arguing at each stop
that the database is an invaluable law enforcement tool.

Officials in Iowa and North Carolina said Friday that they are exploring
the system. And documents obtained through a public-records request in
Florida indicate Arizona and Arkansas also may have interest in the
quick-access information repository, which combines state records with
20 billion pieces of data held by a private company.

For now, Matrix -- short for Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information
Exchange -- involves Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York
and Michigan.

Utah's governor said Thursday that she was halting the state's
participation, which was launched under her predecessor, and appointing
a panel to examine security and privacy issues.

Another state once involved, Georgia, said Friday it is now dropping out
completely -- after the AP confronted officials with documents
indicating the state was continuing to participate despite a public
proclamation to the contrary in October from Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Law enforcement officials say Matrix is an ultra-efficient way for
investigators to get information about suspects that authorities
previously had to obtain from disparate sources. They insist it includes
only public records and does not make predictions about crime or
terrorism.

But privacy advocates say Matrix gives law enforcement too much access
to private details on millions of people, resembling the Pentagon
terrorism data-mining program that drew public rebuke and lost
Congressional funding last year.



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Frank Bajak / Technology Editor
Associated Press / 50 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10020 / 212-621-1689
 

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