Oct. 7 briefing on counterterrorism, data mining and privacy concerns

Each time a person makes a telephone call, uses a credit card, pays taxes, or takes a trip, he or she leaves digital tracks -- records that often end up in massive corporate or government databases. U.S. government counterterrorism programs "mine" some of these databases, searching for information on suspects or trying to detect patterns of activity that may indicate a terrorist network. Government research is also investigating ways to help detect possible terrorists based on their physiological responses and behaviors.

PROTECTING INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISTS: A FRAMEWORK FOR PROGRAM ASSESSMENT, a new report from the National Research Council, discusses what is known about the usefulness of data mining and behavioral surveillance techniques, examines their implications for Americans' privacy, and offers criteria the government should use to evaluate the effectiveness and privacy impacts of agency programs. The report, requested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation, will be released at a one-hour public briefing on Oct. 7.

PARTICIPATING FROM THE COMMITTEE THAT WROTE THE REPORT:

William Perry (co-chair), former U.S. secretary of defense and Michael and Barbara Berberian Professor, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.

Charles Vest (co-chair), president, National Academy of Engineering, Washington, D.C.

Fred Cate, distinguished professor of law, and director, Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research, Indiana University, Bloomington

BRIEFING DETAILS:

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT on Oct. 7 in the Lecture Room of the National Academy of Sciences building, 2100 C St., N.W., Washington, D.C.; a light lunch will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. Those who cannot attend can listen to a live audio webcast and submit questions using an e-mail form at http://national-academies.org.

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Reporters who wish to attend or obtain copies of the report should register in advance with the Office of News and Public Information; tel. 202-334-2138 or e-mail news@nas.edu. Advance copies will be available to reporters only starting at noon EDT on Monday, Oct. 6. THE REPORT IS EMBARGOED AND NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE BEFORE 12:30 P.M. EDT ON TUESDAY, OCT. 7.

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