A plan to monitor consumer behavior through a massive data-gathering program is in question after the Senate voted Friday to halt its funding.
The Total Information Awareness program would have been spearheaded by Rear Admiral John Poindexter, and run through the Pentagon. Plans called for it to collect, filter and synthesize a wide variety of consumer information, including products and transportation tickets purchased, financial and medical records, and other data.
Late last Thursday, an amendment sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) required the government to submit a report on how the project would be used, banned some of the technology involved, and required the government to outline how its creation would thwart terrorism. The amendment, which passed by voice vote, does not affect its ability to monitor the activities of non-U.S. citizens.
On Friday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) also raised concerns about the bill, and indicated that he didn’t know who would champion it within the legislative branch.
The project could still go forward without congressional approval if President Bush deems it necessary to preserve national security.
