Wakefield firm's military deal raises privacy concerns

[True_Blue]

A Wakefield marketing firm that builds databases to help sell compact discs and other products to young Americans has been tapped by the Pentagon to build a military recruiting roster of U.S. teenagers.

The Department of Defense deal with BeNow Inc. of Wakefield illustrates how Pentagon leaders - unhappy with poor recruitment efforts - are using the tools of consumer marketing to help sell life in the armed forces.

It also has triggered privacy concerns as school departments face the loss of federal funding if they don't turn over data on students, their grades and other information.

"It really is an unbelievable amount of information," said Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which led a coalition of groups demanding that DOD scrap the database. Rotenberg said the DOD should target young people "by setting up desks in a mall or doing good TV advertising."

more....
http://www2.townonline.com/wakefield/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=275890

[Tempest]

1. Number 4 in the 14 characteristics of Fascism

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

[Moderator]

2. Old news

Discussed last week ( and duplicated many times )

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1573162