Briefs

This report to Congress by Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to congress covers activities from Jan 31, 2008 to Jan 31, 2009.

Only one program focusing on Video Analysis and Content Extraction (VACE) is uses techniques which Congress considers "data mining".

Congressional Data Mining Report Act defines "data mining" as

"a program involving pattern-based queries, searches or other analyses of 1 or more electronic databases" in order to "discover or locate a predictive pattern or anomaly indicative of terrorist or criminal activity ..."

DNI report notes that analysis performed in ODNI and its agencies is often performed using various types of link analysis tools, which start with a known or suspected "subject" and find links between the subject and potential associates. The ODNI report does not include such link analysis within its definition of "data mining" and in this report.

Here is Office of the DNI Data Mining Report.

See also Washington Post story on this report: Finding a Way to Review Surveillance Tape in Bulk.