Terror Watch List Swells to More Than 755,000

rdavison writes "According to a USA Today story, the terror watch list has swollen to 755,000 with 200,000 people per year being added since 2004. Adding about 548 people daily every day of the year does not seem to lend itself to a manual process with careful deliberation given or double checking being done for each person added. It seems to suggests that data is being mined from somewhere to automatically add names to the list."

wasting time

[LiquidCoooled]

Surely it would be quicker to make an Anti-Terror list of people who are allowed to fly.

Why stop there?!

[sqrt(2)]

Just add everyone, then implement a whitelist instead. We can issue travel papers and everything, it'll be great.

Hm...

[Gorimek]

On average, 548 people join Slashdot every day.

Coincidence?

New Ad Campaign

[ettusyphax]

One in 400 Americans is a Terrorist. You don't want to be a terrorist... do you? [shot of some guy going to the mall with his family] CONSUMERISM. My Anti-Terror.

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[Anonymous Coward]

The Germans didn't stop me shopping so the Irish certainly won't

But the Arabs do, and I'm offended by the insinuation that Arabs are more intimidating than Germans!

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[Algorithmnast]

In reality, the terrorist threat is a several orders of a magnitude less than being killed by heart-disease. It's my view that in any problem solving situation, you should seek to solve the worst problem first and the smallest problem last.

So... I should turn in Ronald McDonald to Homeland Security??

Thank god for the TWL !

[Ihlosi]

As the Glasgow "terrorists" so brilliantly displayed, anybody can be a terrorist.

Then let's thank God and the powers that be for the terrorist watch list (TWL), because anybody can be on it !

Re:USA

[Anonymous Coward]

God Save America....No, seriously...

Fixed it for you.

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[Anonymous Coward]

Thank you for speaking up.
Your name and IP has been added to the list.

- NSA

Now I get it...

[darthflo]

So that's what happens to all those people posting words like "Terrorist", "Bomb", "Bin Laden", "9/11", "Echelon" on Slashdot and all over the intertubes. Luckily I don't do that kinda stuff.

Re:Thank god for the TWL !

[BiggerIsBetter]

Then let's thank God and the powers that be for the terrorist watch list (TWL), because anybody can be on it !

Let it be known that The Department of Homeland Security is an equal-opportunity list-maker.

growth industry

[chrish]

So, in 175 years or so, 100% of the population of the United States will be on this secret list. I wonder if they'll have a process for getting off the list by then.

The airlines are going to be pissed.

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[morgan_greywolf]

So... I should turn in Ronald McDonald to Homeland Security?

Yes, please do. He scares me.

Facebook 2.0

[brown-eyed slug]

the terror watch list has swollen to 755,000 with 200,000 people per year being added since 2004

It's the new social networking sensation!

We don't make mistakes

[Anonymous Coward]

First name on the list: Archibald Buttle, then Archibald Tuttle...

Surprised the list isn't bigger

[edwardpickman]

Aren't there more Democrats than that in this country?

Re:Facebook 2.0

[razorh]

just go to terroristspace.com and sign up for free! You can make friends and swap bombmaking strategies!

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[Cro Magnon]

From the point of view of Homeland Security, they're much more likely to be successful at stopping terrorist attacks than they would be at curing heart disease

From what I've seen of their anti-terror tactics, I think they've got a better shot at curing heart disease.

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[ObiWanStevobi]

What are you talking about? These baseless accusations have to stop! It's corrrosive and divisive at a time when we need to come together.

That's why we should support Gulianni for President. 9/11. Now more than ever. Rudy, 9/11, is a good, 9/11, candidate to bring us all together, 9/11, and remind us that the, 9/11, president serves all the people. Not just, 9/11, some of them. By the way, Rudy was there on 9/11 and saw first hand what will surely happen again if you don't vote for him.

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[unitron]

So... I should turn in Ronald McDonald to Homeland Security?

Yes, please do. He scares me.

He may be a little scary, but that frozen-faced Burger King in their TV ads just plain creeps me out. The only thing that makes me faster to reach for the remote is any mention whatsoever of Donald Trump.

At least this isn't the UK

[kalirion]

Otherwise all those people would be shot dead as soon as they tried to book a flight.

Terrorist is the new Communist...

[denzacar]

So I guess in a couple of decades it will stop being a threat. When we run out of oil and they run out of funding and stop being interesting as an enemy.

I wonder who will be the new terrorists?

I propose vampires.

Re:wasting time

[timeOday]

No, that would be letting the terrorists off the hook. What we should do is put everybody* on the list - that's the only way to be sure.

(*everybody except politicians and rich people, since they're vital to national security and economic welfare).

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[Anonymous Coward]

I work with you, you insensitive clod!

Look out! THEY are after us all!

Re:Why stop there?!

[fm6]

In Soviet Russia... Oh, never mind.

Re:wasting time

[Skevin]

So, that big half-white, half-yellow book my phone company gives me every year isn't the Terror Watch List for my local neighborhood? Could've fooled me.

Solomon

Re:Let's resolve to keep our freedom.

[spun]

Ha! Until Wendy's produces a game where Pipi Longbeard can hide in trash cans, stalk people and deliver unto them the hot and juicy, they are nowhere near as creepy as Burger King.