In the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, former national security advisor John Poindexter introduced Total Information Awareness, a program aimed at preventing future assaults on the homeland by collecting extensive databases on individuals and their movements. Despite facing backlash from civil libertarians and being defunded by Congress, the program did not die out completely. Instead, it went underground with code names like “Basketball” and classified budgets, as journalist Byron Tau reveals in his book "Means of Control."
Tau exposes how private Beltway contractors have helped build a secretive surveillance regime using commercially available data, creating a creeping panopticon in the absence of a federal privacy law. He uncovers how the U.S. national security establishment has been indirectly eavesdropping on millions of Americans and foreigners through the collection and brokering of data, all in the name of military, intelligence, and homeland security.
The book delves into the post-9/11 world where different types of data became available for purchase by the U.S. government, and how the rise of "surveillance capitalism" fueled a thriving market of businesses selling personal data. Tau's investigative work sheds light on the hidden partnerships and tactics used to gather intelligence, including embedding data-collecting software in smartphone apps and using CIA-funded tools like VISR.
While Tau faces challenges as an outsider trying to navigate the world of surveillance, he highlights the collaborative efforts of journalists and privacy advocates in uncovering these practices. The book also discusses the actions taken against companies like X-Mode, which was banned by the FTC for selling location data without explicit consent, raising concerns about tracking individuals to sensitive locations.
As the Biden administration's FTC becomes more active in addressing privacy issues, "Means of Control" serves as a timely reminder of the importance of digital privacy and the tradeoffs individuals face in protecting themselves from surveillance. Tau's exploration of this shadowy world offers a glimpse into the complex web of data collection and surveillance that has become a pervasive part of modern society.
