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Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

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Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#41

Post by lukas099 »

jfoutz wrote: post #39
j_bum wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why’s that? I’m really not familiar with the ins and outs of clearance. Do you have ethical reasons? Or practical?

I bowed out of the process. I just couldn't quite figure out how to reconcile what was asked of me. Don't be around people in possession of illegal drugs. Ok, well grandpa died and I know for sure his oxy is in his medicine cabinet. Grandma hasn't thrown that away. You're not really allowed to do that, ya know? I understand why the rules are the way they are. I understand that they would not care about that situation…

Do they really care if your Grandma has Grandpa's old medicine? I find this hard to believe.

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#42

Post by jfoutz »

lukas099 wrote: post #41
jfoutz wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bowed out of the process. I just couldn't quite figure out how to reconcile what was asked of me. Don't be around people in possession of illegal drugs. Ok, well grandpa died and I know for sure his oxy is in his medicine cabinet. Grandma hasn't thrown that away. You're not really allowed to do that, ya know? I understand why the rules are the way they are. I understand that they would not care about that situation…

Do they really care if your Grandma has Grandpa's old medicine? I find this hard to believe.

They don't.

The rule is clear and explicit. There are rules that are written down, that you agree to abide by.

There is a second set of rules, that is not written down, that is the actual standard you're held to.

I don't know how to do that. so I didn't.

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#43

Post by spacebacon »

greyface- wrote: post #3

Getting a security clearance comes with liability and potential downside that doesn't exist in the private sector. Some examples: * Restrictions and reporting requirements around international travel and contact with foreign nationals * Restrictions on discussing work with friends and family * Prohibition on cannabis use * Prohibition on reading publicly leaked secret documents (from the Snowden days: https://web.arc…

If pot was regulated similarly to tobacco the amount of talent that can adhere to the rest of that would be exponential imo.

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#44

Post by AlchemistCamp »

altairprime wrote: post #12

I think this submission title should be modified to: > Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students This addresses several issues with the headline as presented: - It’s capitalized appropriately for HN. - It clearly states that this is about students only , reducing the scope of the effort from the unstated framing: “all workers”. - It reflects the single-company focus of Palantir in the article, impro…

The original title’s capitalization was correct. In fact, AP, Chicago and Wikipedia styles all suggest exactly the capitalization the author used.

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#45

Post by [deleted] »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #37
j_bum wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why’s that? I’m really not familiar with the ins and outs of clearance. Do you have ethical reasons? Or practical?

This comment gives a pretty good account of why myself and others are not interested: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20556201#20557382 Being subjected to pseudoscientific security theater isn't really that appealing.

[deleted]

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#46

Post by 8organicbits »

spacebacon wrote: post #43
greyface- wrote: post #3

Getting a security clearance comes with liability and potential downside that doesn't exist in the private sector. Some examples: * Restrictions and reporting requirements around international travel and contact with foreign nationals * Restrictions on discussing work with friends and family * Prohibition on cannabis use * Prohibition on reading publicly leaked secret documents (from the Snowden days: https://web.arc…

If pot was regulated similarly to tobacco the amount of talent that can adhere to the rest of that would be exponential imo.

We're waiting for a change in the posture against cannabis at the Federal level [1], but it has been possible to get a security clearance even if you have used marijuana. Looking at the public guidelines [2] there's a distinction between "ever" and "in the last 90 days".

[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/471...

[2] https://news.clearancejobs.com/2024/03/14/marijuana-use-and-...

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#47

Post by seo-speedwagon »

jonnybgood wrote: post #8
greyface- wrote: post #3

Getting a security clearance comes with liability and potential downside that doesn't exist in the private sector. Some examples: * Restrictions and reporting requirements around international travel and contact with foreign nationals * Restrictions on discussing work with friends and family * Prohibition on cannabis use * Prohibition on reading publicly leaked secret documents (from the Snowden days: https://web.arc…

I believe the only lasting restriction is speaking about the work due to an NDA, which is not that different than NDA restrictions on speaking about private sector trade secrets and intellectual property. The other restrictions only last if seeking to maintain the clearance or employed in a position that requires a clearance. Clearances expire except for the NDA.

These NDAs are backed with extremely onerous jail sentences, which is IMO a meaningful distinction vs. other types of NDAs.

Beyond that, all your paperwork to get that clearance is in the government’s hands now. In my case that included a full SF-86 and fingerprints, which the government would otherwise not have from me. So it’s IMO accurate to describe the consequences as “lifelong”.

Truth be told, having left that line of work long ago, it bothers me these pieces of info about me are out there somewhere in Uncle Sam’s possession.

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#48

Post by [deleted] »

8organicbits wrote: post #46
spacebacon wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If pot was regulated similarly to tobacco the amount of talent that can adhere to the rest of that would be exponential imo.

We're waiting for a change in the posture against cannabis at the Federal level [1], but it has been possible to get a security clearance even if you have used marijuana. Looking at the public guidelines [2] there's a distinction between "ever" and "in the last 90 days". [1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/471... [2] https://news.clearancejobs.com/2024/03/14/marijuana-use-and-...

[deleted]

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#49

Post by mingus88 »

spacebacon wrote: post #43
greyface- wrote: post #3

Getting a security clearance comes with liability and potential downside that doesn't exist in the private sector. Some examples: * Restrictions and reporting requirements around international travel and contact with foreign nationals * Restrictions on discussing work with friends and family * Prohibition on cannabis use * Prohibition on reading publicly leaked secret documents (from the Snowden days: https://web.arc…

If pot was regulated similarly to tobacco the amount of talent that can adhere to the rest of that would be exponential imo.

Yes the Feds are really hamstrung by weed being a schedule 1 substance. It’s asinine

Especially, if as the article claims, they want to clear college students.

When I went through this, the guidance was that pot usage was ok as long as it was in the past and not chronic usage. Just say you haven’t been near it in years, but yes you did it. They’re going to interview everyone you’ve ever known that they can find, so just don’t lie about it.

How many college students can claim this? Weed is everywhere now.

Fact is, it’s schedule 1. If you are willing to break this law, what other very serious crimes are you willing to commit?

And if Palantir refused to hire software devs who have smoked weed, that would disqualify 80% of the talent pool in Silicon Valley.

Re: Palantir’s accelerated security clearance plan for students

#50

Post by spacebacon »

mingus88 wrote: post #49
spacebacon wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If pot was regulated similarly to tobacco the amount of talent that can adhere to the rest of that would be exponential imo.

Yes the Feds are really hamstrung by weed being a schedule 1 substance. It’s asinine Especially, if as the article claims, they want to clear college students. When I went through this, the guidance was that pot usage was ok as long as it was in the past and not chronic usage. Just say you haven’t been near it in years, but yes you did it. They’re going to interview everyone you’ve ever known that they can find, so j…

The overwhelming public support for marijuana is the main marker to consider when psychoanalyzing why someone is willing to break one law but maybe/maybe-not others.

The dominant perception among tech talent is the law hasn’t kept up with the times.

Drawing conclusions about one’s choice to use or try marijuana is perceived as unacceptable cultural behavior that is not currently within the modern scope of what we could refer to as "Overton’s window".

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