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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72250-0.html?tw=wn_index_1">http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72250-0.html?tw=wn_index_1</A></FONT></DIV>
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<P>WASHINGTON -- A newly revealed system that has been assigning terrorism
scores to Americans traveling into or out of the country for the past five years
is not merely invasive, privacy advocates charge, it's an illegal violation of
limits Congress has placed on the Department of Homeland Security for the last
three years.</P>
<P>The <A href="http://papersplease.org/wp/">Identity Project</A>, founded by
online rights pioneer John Gilmore, filed official <A
href="http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ContentViewer?objectId=09000064801e80c8&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf">objections</A>
(.pdf) to the Automated Targeting System, or ATS, on Monday, calling the program
clearly illegal.</P>
<P>The comment cited a little-known provision in the 2007 Homeland Security
funding bill prohibiting government agencies from developing algorithms that
assign risk scores to travelers not on government watchlists.</P>
<P>"By cloaking this prohibited action in a border issue ... the Department of
Homeland Security directly and openly contravenes Congress' clear intent," wrote
project members Edward Hasbrouck and James Harrison.</P>
<P>A DHS spokesman said the language in the appropriations bill doesn't cover
the ATS, and insisted the program is legal.</P>
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