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Really though. If you wanted to claim that it was just for research, why give it such an inflammatory name? Compare: 1) WebReader is monitoring internet data.

Really though. If you wanted to claim that it was just for research, why give it such an inflammatory name? Compare: 1) WebReader is monitoring internet data. 2) Perfect Citizen is monitoring internet data. Which one do you expect to be a robocop-like being that will kick down your door at night and declare "verdict: guilty, sentence: execution"? Not that this doesn't reflect an irrational trust on your part of innocuous names, but really, why name it that?

elbenshira 16y ago
The researchers probably did it on purpose. It's their way of warning us of what they are about to unleash.
hugh3 16y ago
It reminds me of the London "Secure Beneath The Watchful Eyes" poster campaign from a few years ago: http://www.art-for-a-change.com/News/eyes.htm http://www.art-for-a-change.com/News/eyes.htm Either somebody is having an Orwellian joke, or somebody is frighteningly tone-deaf. I mean, even "Patriot Act" probably seemed like a good idea at the time (as did my personal favourite, Operation Infinite Justice), but Perfect Citizen is just weird.
- orangecat 16y ago
  My favorite was Total Information Awareness, including the creepy Masonic eyeball: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Awareness_Office http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Awareness_Office
- bdr 16y ago
  The Iraq invasion was originally "Operation Iraqi Liberation" -- O.I.L.
  - deleted 16y ago
    [deleted]
drawkbox 16y ago
It seems there are more and more of these like the naming of the 'Patriot Act'. 'Perfect Citizen' is almost doublespeak at this point. What is happening here?
- daten 16y ago
  I think the people involved with naming these programs live in a very different environment and have a very different mindset than the people who think these are obviously bad names. Can you list more than one previous example that fits this pattern?
  - drawkbox 16y ago
    I guess naming is part of selling it. If it was named as it actually is they would never pass. Stuff as simple as the 'War on Terorism' when they are on our side in the 80's in Afghanistan for instance they were 'Freedom Fighters' As far as bills: - USA Patriot Act = Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 - Operation Liberty Shield - http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0115.shtm http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0115.shtm - Homeland Security Act - http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/law_regulation_rule_0011.shtm http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/law_regulation_rule_0011.shtm - S.A.F.E.T.Y Act - http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/editorial_0878.shtm http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/editorial_0878.shtm - ...
sp332 16y ago
It's to distract people from the actual citizen-monitoring program, which is code-named "Somebody Else's Problem."
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
rdtsc 16y ago
Different kind of research -- probably a media and public reaction test. It is not that uncommon for spy agencies to release disinformation and test the outcome.
imgabe 16y ago
I think to the mindset of someone who chooses to work for the NSA being like Robocop is a GOOD thing. After all, Robocop catches the bad guys. If he comes and kicks down your door, it's because you were doing something wrong. If you sign up to work for an agency like the NSA, you're probably doing it because you want to serve your country and protect it from the bad guys. You're not setting out to create some kind of totalitarian police state.
- gaius 16y ago
  It amuses me, like in that James Bond film with Rosalind Pike, when Hollywood wants a secret organization even more sinister than the CIA they go for the NSA. I've (obv) never been to the NSA's office but I bet it's indistinguishable from any of the established high tech firms, like IBM or Boeing or Intel or Raytheon. Everyone clean-shaven and wearing a crisp white shirt. These guys write programs and research cryptography. When they need some ass kicked they phone the Navy SEALs (1-800-SEAL4U in case you ever need them), then go back to complaining about the coffee machine.
  - noonespecial 16y ago
    From the government agencies I've done work in, I think it would be easily distinguishable from somewhere like Boeing. The government guys are the ones using Windows 98 and still trying to get the approval they started 9 years ago to upgrade to SE.
    - piguy314 16y ago
      It's comforting to think of the government as bumbling, backward and behind the times, but you should NOT think of the NSA this way. They have been on the cutting edge of the technology for the past 10 years, they are building a massive data center in Utah for cyber-security purposes (http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=221100260 http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/show...), they recruit heavily at hacking and security conventions, and they have multiple public private partnerships with heavy hitters in the tech world (http://247wallst.com/2010/02/04/an-unprecedented-public-private-partnership-as-google-and-nsa-team-on-cyberattacks/ http://247wallst.com/2010/02/04/an-unprecedented-public-priv...).
Arun2009 16y ago
Maybe they're just stupid, but then again maybe the name's intentionally creepy? Now it's registered in everyone's minds that they are being watched by Perfect Citizen (which is just a 'research program' really, wink wink). This could potentially cause mischief-makers to resort to pathological behavior to cover their tracks that can be detected more easily. Or maybe there would be a scarecrow-effect: people will behave because they know someone's watching them.
coderdude 16y ago
I wouldn't be surprised if they both know that the name is creepy and like it like that. If NSA personnel are anything like cops or Marines, then they have a sick sense of humor about their work.
JCThoughtscream 16y ago
For the same reason why DARPA has projects codenamed "BATMAN" and "ROBIN." They're staffed by geeks and loons.

elbenshira 16y ago

The researchers probably did it on purpose. It's their way of warning us of what they are about to unleash.

hugh3 16y ago

It reminds me of the London "Secure Beneath The Watchful Eyes" poster campaign from a few years ago: http://www.art-for-a-change.com/News/eyes.htm http://www.art-for-a-change.com/News/eyes.htm Either somebody is having an Orwellian joke, or somebody is frighteningly tone-deaf. I mean, even "Patriot Act" probably seemed like a good idea at the time (as did my personal favourite, Operation Infinite Justice), but Perfect Citizen is just weird.

orangecat 16y ago
My favorite was Total Information Awareness, including the creepy Masonic eyeball: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Awareness_Office http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Awareness_Office
bdr 16y ago
The Iraq invasion was originally "Operation Iraqi Liberation" -- O.I.L.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]

drawkbox 16y ago

It seems there are more and more of these like the naming of the 'Patriot Act'. 'Perfect Citizen' is almost doublespeak at this point. What is happening here?

daten 16y ago
I think the people involved with naming these programs live in a very different environment and have a very different mindset than the people who think these are obviously bad names. Can you list more than one previous example that fits this pattern?
- drawkbox 16y ago
  I guess naming is part of selling it. If it was named as it actually is they would never pass. Stuff as simple as the 'War on Terorism' when they are on our side in the 80's in Afghanistan for instance they were 'Freedom Fighters' As far as bills: - USA Patriot Act = Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 - Operation Liberty Shield - http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0115.shtm http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0115.shtm - Homeland Security Act - http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/law_regulation_rule_0011.shtm http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/law_regulation_rule_0011.shtm - S.A.F.E.T.Y Act - http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/editorial_0878.shtm http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/editorial_0878.shtm - ...

sp332 16y ago

It's to distract people from the actual citizen-monitoring program, which is code-named "Somebody Else's Problem."

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

rdtsc 16y ago

Different kind of research -- probably a media and public reaction test. It is not that uncommon for spy agencies to release disinformation and test the outcome.

imgabe 16y ago

I think to the mindset of someone who chooses to work for the NSA being like Robocop is a GOOD thing. After all, Robocop catches the bad guys. If he comes and kicks down your door, it's because you were doing something wrong. If you sign up to work for an agency like the NSA, you're probably doing it because you want to serve your country and protect it from the bad guys. You're not setting out to create some kind of totalitarian police state.

gaius 16y ago
It amuses me, like in that James Bond film with Rosalind Pike, when Hollywood wants a secret organization even more sinister than the CIA they go for the NSA. I've (obv) never been to the NSA's office but I bet it's indistinguishable from any of the established high tech firms, like IBM or Boeing or Intel or Raytheon. Everyone clean-shaven and wearing a crisp white shirt. These guys write programs and research cryptography. When they need some ass kicked they phone the Navy SEALs (1-800-SEAL4U in case you ever need them), then go back to complaining about the coffee machine.
- noonespecial 16y ago
  From the government agencies I've done work in, I think it would be easily distinguishable from somewhere like Boeing. The government guys are the ones using Windows 98 and still trying to get the approval they started 9 years ago to upgrade to SE.
  - piguy314 16y ago
    It's comforting to think of the government as bumbling, backward and behind the times, but you should NOT think of the NSA this way. They have been on the cutting edge of the technology for the past 10 years, they are building a massive data center in Utah for cyber-security purposes (http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=221100260 http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/show...), they recruit heavily at hacking and security conventions, and they have multiple public private partnerships with heavy hitters in the tech world (http://247wallst.com/2010/02/04/an-unprecedented-public-private-partnership-as-google-and-nsa-team-on-cyberattacks/ http://247wallst.com/2010/02/04/an-unprecedented-public-priv...).

Arun2009 16y ago

Maybe they're just stupid, but then again maybe the name's intentionally creepy? Now it's registered in everyone's minds that they are being watched by Perfect Citizen (which is just a 'research program' really, wink wink). This could potentially cause mischief-makers to resort to pathological behavior to cover their tracks that can be detected more easily. Or maybe there would be a scarecrow-effect: people will behave because they know someone's watching them.

coderdude 16y ago

I wouldn't be surprised if they both know that the name is creepy and like it like that. If NSA personnel are anything like cops or Marines, then they have a sick sense of humor about their work.

JCThoughtscream 16y ago

For the same reason why DARPA has projects codenamed "BATMAN" and "ROBIN." They're staffed by geeks and loons.