We’ll all be “tinfoil hat-wearing, black-helicopter conspiracy theorists” soon

Ars Techica reports that the Directorate of State Security Department of Homeland Security is building a database to “keep tabs on over 290,000 “global news sources” and develop an extensive database for an unconfirmed number of “media influencers.”

Furthermore, the DHS contract calls for the firm selected to build this monstrosity to

…deliver “media-comparison tools, design and rebranding tools, communication tools, and the ability to identify top media influencers” for a span ranging from one to five years, all with the aim of tracking “any and all media coverage related to the Department of Homeland Security or a particular event.” Part of that data-combing effort would include the development of a “database” that gathers intel about “journalists, editors, correspondents, social media influencers, bloggers, etc.,” including locations, beats, reporter “types,” contact details, overviews of each “influencer’s” previous coverage, current publications, and “any other information that could be relevant.”

Yes, there will apparently be an app to allow easy access all that for authorized users. But don’t be concerned, access to the data will be password protected.

For those concerned that this is going too far, DHS spokesman Tyler Houlton says that this is “standard practice” and continues that “Any suggestion otherwise is fit for tinfoil hat-wearing, black-helicopter conspiracy theorists.”

I’m not buying DHS’s BS. If they were simply tracking news stories, OK. That’s nothing more than what a clipping service provides. But tracking the authors, editors, their contact details and on and on? I view that as stepping into an entirely new realm of activity that is meant by the Deep State to chill the exercise of free speech. They intend it to be taken that way and they know it will be taken that way. The frightening thought is that They. Don’t. Care. They don’t believe they need to care–no one has ever made them care before. The Big Question is “Will anyone be able to make them care this time?”

Now excuse me while I hit up Amazon and order one of those restaurant-size rolls of aluminium foil, suitable for the entire family.

Edit, 4/12/2018, 1526: According to The Woodpile Report #524, per Denninger this database is already built and in production. I didn’t understand this as such in the original report, but Remus’s link does say that. Effing wonderful.