InfraGard

                                                 InfraGard

           InfraGard is an information gathering and facilitating FBI program, which was founded in 1996. Their goal is to prevent hostile acts against the United States and its citizens by letting other agencies utilize their scavenged intelligence. It contains over 50,000 members nationwide, who's goals are to protect the national infrastructure such as drinking water, agricultural resources, and communication systems. It is assumed that the federal government alone cannot provide need protection.
         Some skeptics regard the nature of this organization as controversial because they feel that it infringes on civil liberties. The ACLU stated that they are concerned that InfraGard turns private-sector businesses into "eyes and ears of the FBI". The chairwoman of the InfraGard board of directors strongly disagrees, noting that InfraGard is available to every American.
         I hadn't heard of InfraGard before this last week. While the idea itself isn't intrinsically a harmful one, there definitely exists the potential for abuse. For example, people's private information may be collected when they wish that it remains under the radar. This information may range from anything between internet and phone records to medical and banking records. If any American is potentially able to access this information, there is virtually no way to get every single one to act responsibly with it. Of course people will use it for personal gains.
     
          As seem by the map to the left, InfraGard is a well organized system with 6 geographic regions, each with its unique issues. Although managed at the regional level, InfraGard is branded at the national level with patriotic seals. The image
that InfraGard projects is official, vs. non-profit, which it really is. It would be unwise for us to fall for their persuasive imagery and rhetoric, and believe they are sponsored by the government when they really are not. We should weigh the values of both privacy and safety on the scale of justice and make an informed decision on the value of InfraGard. The public should certainly be aware that an organization like this exists, and I will take personal responsibility for getting the word out.

Sources: https://www.infragard.org, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfraGard, http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2010/march/infragard_030810