SoylentNews

takyon writes:

Twitter blocks government 'spy centers' from accessing user data:

Twitter has blocked federally funded "domestic spy centers" from using a powerful social media monitoring tool after public records revealed that the government had special access to users' information for controversial surveillance efforts.

The government centers are partnerships between agencies that work to collect vast amounts of information purportedly to analyze "threats". The spy centers, according to the ACLU, target protesters, journalists and others protected by free speech rights while also racially profiling people deemed "suspicious" by law enforcement.

In one email, Dataminr told Los Angeles police that its product could be customized to track protests, adding: "Twitter owns part of Dataminr (5%) so our access to their data is unmatched – no other company ingests the full firehouse of 500 million tweets in real-time ... Twitter has been very clear with my CEO: 'Dataminr is the only company with full, unrestricted access.'"

"Dataminr is committed to privacy and civil liberties protections," the company said in a statement. "We have worked closely with Twitter to modify our product and incorporate feedback that ensures the strongest safeguards are in place for people who use Twitter."

Also at aclunc.org and The Verge.

This all sounds very familiar...

Previously: Twitter Cuts Off U.S. Spy Agency Access to Search Tool

Original Submission