Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) blasted the DOJ and the FBI division for a recent five-year, $12 million contract for ChoicePoint to provide investigative analysis software to the FBI. In February 2005, ChoicePoint announced a data breach after criminals set up fake businesses that purchased private information from the data broker.

“What in heaven’s name are we doing allowing someone as careless as ChoicePoint to be in control of our data?” Leahy said at a subcommittee hearing on the DOJ’s 2007 budget. “I consider them the poster child for lax security protection.”

It (i2) is called a “subsidiary,” Senator. They make software that helps connect dots. You know, what you do when you are trying to get to the bottom of something . . . as opposed to just flying off the handle.

About the Author

Michael Tanji

Michael Tanji spent nearly 20 years in the US intelligence community. Trained in both SIGINT and HUMINT disciplines he has worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office. At various points in his career he served as an expert in information warfare, computer network operations, computer forensics, and indications and warning. A veteran of the US Army, Michael has served in both strategic and tactical assignments in the Pacific Theater, the Balkans, and the Middle East.