DOE photo by Ed Westcott 1960s Oak Ridge Tennessee
It has been revealed that the U.S. Postal Service has been secretly monitoring the social media posts of Americans.
Yahoo News obtained documents that revealed the law enforcement wing of the U.S. Postal Service has been engaging in a massive surveille effort. The effort involved combing through social media sites and finding any “inflammatory” posts and reporting them to other government agencies.
From The Daily Caller:
“Analysts with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Internet Covert Operations Program (iCOP) monitored significant activity regarding planned protests occurring internationally and domestically on March 20, 2021,” the document, marked as “law enforcement sensitive,” says. “Locations and times have been identified for these protests, which are being distributed online across multiple social media platforms, to include right-wing leaning Parler and Telegram accounts.”
The document includes several different screenshots of posts from Parler, Facebook, and other social media sites, and says that the surveillance program is monitoring these sites to identify any possible threats. (RELATED: Johnny Manziel Says Social Media Can Be A Dangerous Place)
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USPIS did not respond to questions from Yahoo about the surveillance program but provided a general statement about its responsibilities and authority.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the primary law enforcement, crime prevention, and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service,” the statement said, according to Yahoo. “The Internet Covert Operations Program is a function within the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which assesses threats to Postal Service employees and its infrastructure by monitoring publicly available open source information.”
Many have already come out to condemn this practice and legal concerns are being raised over the surveillance operation.
Senator Ted Cruz tweeted: “Finally, an answer to the question: “Is there any federal agency that’s not spying on Americans?””
Finally, an answer to the question: “Is there any federal agency that’s not spying on Americans?” https://t.co/gA6KoguD4N
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 21, 2021
Rachel Levison-Waldman, the deputy director of the Brennan Center of Justice’s Liberty, rose concerns over whether or not the whole operation was even legal. Levinson-Waldman pointed out that the monitoring of individuals who may be planning or carrying out criminal activity should be under the “purview of the FBI.”
Why does it always seem surveillance is followed by AI, as AI follows the commentary?
Is there where the money is going amount DemRats union. Looks like post office hes been bankrupt since I remember and they are now there are spying on citizens. Ever federal agency is a life because of us citizens tax money. Maybe is time to abolish them also.
I have not “mailed” anything in over 5 years. if i wish to “ship” a gift to a friend or family member i use ups or fed ex. BUT, I do send money/gifts to my son and grand children via direct deposit . ALL my bill payments are done in a similar fashion. SHUT DOWN the BLOATED,USELESS USPS..They will NOT be missed !
The Postal Service should have been privatized YEARS ago!!
Another worthless government department that can’t compete in the real world. I had two boxes to ship. Called post office, gave size and weight. They guestimated $25.00 each to ship. They claimed USPS could beat FedX price. Went to ship and they quoted $51.00 each.( $101.**) I asked why when I got price a week ago. The clerk started giving me a load of crap about how I didn’t give them right information. BS, I have electronic scale in business. I can read a tape measure. I have machine shop. Real turd attitude. So he said I would have to repack them to get a lower rate, but that would make at least three boxes. When driving home I decide to go by FEDX before repacking anything. Shipped BOTH BOXES for $77.76. Saved about $25.00 for the exact same boxes. I have been around and around with this same clown before. He figures he can’t be fired and he don’t care how he treats you. I give USPS lots of free Ads and tell people how cheaper FEDX is without the BS. Post office has both FEDX and UPs delivering for them. They are making money subbing for them and can ship cheaper than USPS. That tells me it’s just like any other government department. GROSS MISSMANAGMENT! Then they wonder why people hate them and they are going broke. I knew people when I was a kid that hated them. Stand in line for hours to get stamps and put up with their BS. Many people were thrilled to see UPS and FedX come in here. I avoid doing business with them. FUC* THEM.
We pay for this abuse with postage stamps AND our tax dollars.
Maybe that’s why they can’t deliver our mail in less than 10 days or 2 weeks.
Bet dirty polittian are involved in this illegal scheme. from the demcrats, what else is new.
Just close the USPS down completely. It caused damage to people’s credit over the past year. Everyone in this country wanted to get back to work except the postal workers and public school teachers. They wanted to be fully paid but refused to work. They are lazy. They are incompetent. Turn the system over to a NON-UNION private corporation. The USPS costs each individual in this country tons of money. They are bankrupt. Get rid of them. The new system will hire them but only without the Union. Unfortunately for them they will have to work.
Yes, and if the USPS would stop running hundreds of hours of TV advertising during sporting events and other times considering they are a monopoly, they would save the taxpayers millions.
And the USPS keeps crying that they are losing money! Now we know why!
That and the billions they spend on useless TV advertisements that run every night!
They need to be AUDITED . . . . . NOW!