DARPA, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Defense, recently called for contractor proposals for building software that would compile and analyze the data of social media sites in order to better predict acts of terrorism. Some in the online community, while supportive of anti-terrorism efforts, are wary of DARPA’s intentions and worry about the application of the theoretical software in the hands of private companies, such as marketers and polling groups. Online forums are abuzz with commentary from heavily armed, anti-tax, anti-government types worried about bankers raping the country, communists undermining America, illegals taking their jobs and “the Feds” taking their guns away. To which DARPA has responded, “See, this is why we need this type of software.”
Leave a Reply