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The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

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Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#121
post #100

This is a tough issue for a government. We do have crazies out there and we do need to investigate potential dangerous groups and individuals and reel them in before they do something crazy. On my FB feed I have seen friends and friends of friends call for armed revolt many times over the past few years. Most all of them are blowing steam and many are in their 60s or older and couldn't run a block in gym shorts, and…

The ordeal at our Capital proves there's a problem that needs to be monitored.

They were monitored. To the extent that the lead of the Proud Boys was actually supplying intel to the feds and the Status Coup youtube channel (which I think was taken off line for some Kafkaesque reason) was recording various pro-Trump people in public calling for such actions.

More monitoring is not needed. Monitoring did nothing to stop the 9-11 Saudi allies from carrying out their mission. The only thing monitoring does is to make people fear to express their thoughts online in case they get into trouble.

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#122
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a fantastic trivia fact, I guess threats to the postal service are a very old problem so it makes sense.

Not merely threats to the postal service itself, but threats via the postal service. I imagine the best to get away with (say) fraud has always been to avoid physical presence, i.e. using mail.

> the best to get away with (say) fraud

And letter/package bombs

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"When our Corps goes in as guards over the mail, that mail must be delivered," wrote Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby. "Or there must be a Marine dead at the post of duty. There can be no compromise." https://www.military.com/off-duty/2020/08/25/intense-rules-u... The mail is serious business.

That was a wild read. > Q. Suppose the thief was apparently unarmed but was running away? > A. Call halt twice at the top of your voice, and if he does not halt, fire one warning shot; and if he does not obey this, shoot to hit him. There was no chill during the great depression: > Q. If I hear the command 'Hands Up,' am I justified in obeying this order? > A. No; fall to the ground and start shooting.

Asides from all that stuff about ordering soldiers to kill American civilians, I'm just boggled that it had a FAQ. How old is the FAQ structure? Wikipedia suggests a history going back to the 1600s, and much further if you stretch the definition to Plato.

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#124

Pretty much any federal agency you have heard of has an investigative dept that employs federal special agents. These are law enforcement roles with the same training, authority, and responsibilities as investigative agents in the FBI, etc. They were created to meet the specific law enforcement needs of each agency. Dept of Education agents investigate misuse of Dept of Education funds, for example. The Postal Inspec…

> Pretty much any federal agency you have heard of has an investigative dept that employs federal special agents. These are law enforcement roles with the same training, authority, and responsibilities as investigative agents in the FBI, etc. Maybe worth noting that USPIS is older than the FBI. It's the oldest federal law enforcement agency.

It is also the only agency named in the constitution. The others are all fluff. At least that’s what I was taught!

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"When our Corps goes in as guards over the mail, that mail must be delivered," wrote Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby. "Or there must be a Marine dead at the post of duty. There can be no compromise." https://www.military.com/off-duty/2020/08/25/intense-rules-u... The mail is serious business.

That was a wild read. > Q. Suppose the thief was apparently unarmed but was running away? > A. Call halt twice at the top of your voice, and if he does not halt, fire one warning shot; and if he does not obey this, shoot to hit him. There was no chill during the great depression: > Q. If I hear the command 'Hands Up,' am I justified in obeying this order? > A. No; fall to the ground and start shooting.

No mincing of words. Something like this would never be put into writing today, as far as I understand the USMC:

Q. Is there a general plan for meeting a robbery?

A. Yes; start shooting and meet developments as they arise thereafter.

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#126
post #16

I work in cyber security ML engineering (open for interviews, hmu) and frequently see federal contractor firms hiring for cyber data/engineer positions for USPS. Always puzzled me. example: https://jobs.rtx.com/job/-/-/4679/4267185376?codes=INDEED

What is cyber data?

I’ve recently heard people use cyber to mean cyber security.

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#127
post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Pretty much any federal agency you have heard of has an investigative dept that employs federal special agents. These are law enforcement roles with the same training, authority, and responsibilities as investigative agents in the FBI, etc. Maybe worth noting that USPIS is older than the FBI. It's the oldest federal law enforcement agency.

It is also the only agency named in the constitution. The others are all fluff. At least that’s what I was taught!

Census is in the Constitution as well

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#128

Pretty much any federal agency you have heard of has an investigative dept that employs federal special agents. These are law enforcement roles with the same training, authority, and responsibilities as investigative agents in the FBI, etc. They were created to meet the specific law enforcement needs of each agency. Dept of Education agents investigate misuse of Dept of Education funds, for example. The Postal Inspec…

>They were created to meet the specific law enforcement needs of each agency. Dept of Education agents investigate misuse of Dept of Education funds, That's a really charitable way of saying "handle petty stuff that the FBI can't justify spending resources on". Every specialty police department exists for this reason and this reason only. Because the mission is often so petty they wouldn't get any resources if it was…

This. This right here. Every word.

I would even go so far as to say, there shouldn't be specific immigration cops, or alcohol, tobacco and firearms cops, since if there were actual crimes committed by immigrants or gun owners, the crimes themselves should be dealt with. To allow cops to go snooping around by widening jurisdictional responsibility, it has a very "pre-crime" aspect to it, which is often subject to prejudice and bias.

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#129
post #16

I work in cyber security ML engineering (open for interviews, hmu) and frequently see federal contractor firms hiring for cyber data/engineer positions for USPS. Always puzzled me. example: https://jobs.rtx.com/job/-/-/4679/4267185376?codes=INDEED

What is cyber data?

My guess is that’s it is data on or relating to computing devices rather than other data (for example, sales figures at a carpet store). I’m just guessing, though. It’s a good question.

Re: The USPS is running a 'covert' program to monitor Americans' social media posts

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, the protestors at the capitol didn't kill anyone.

Why was this downvoted? It's completely factual. Officer Sicknick passed away from natural causes (the narrative that his head was bashed in with a fire extinguisher evaporated a couple of days ago[0]). Two of the protesters had heart attacks and one apparently had a meth overdose. The only person who was killed was shot by police. If you have evidence to the contrary, please cite it. 0. https://www.politifact.com/ar…

Most people may not have heard, or don't want to hear, that the narrative collapsed.
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