F.B.I. Data Mining Reached Beyond Initial Targets

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/washington/09fbi.html

 

The documents indicate that the Federal Bureau of Investigation used secret demands for records to obtain data not only on individuals it saw as targets but also details on their "community of interest" — the network of people that the target was in contact with.

 

This is like social networking on steroids, without the opt-in (or opt-out).  Take my case: I know someone directly who knows Larry Ellison, I know 5 people who know people who know Nancy Pelosi, and I even know 9 people who know people who know people who know George W. Bush. 

 

I would hate for anyone to judge me based on those associations. :-P