Terrorist Screening Database

The FBI's Terrorist Screening Center has consolidated the names of all known or suspected terrorists within the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB). The list consisted of 1,000,000 records (each designating a name or alias of an individual) as of July 2008, having rapidly expanded over recent years. In June 2004, 158,000 records were in the database and by May 2007 this has risen to 750,000. [" [http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08110.pdf Terrorist Watch List Screening: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Management Oversight, Reduce Vulnerabilities in Agency Screening Processes, and Expand Use of the List] ", General Accounting Office, report number GAO-08-110, October 24, 2007.] As of late 2007, approximately 20,000 records per month are being added. It was estimated in July 2008 that one million names have made it to the list.Ellen Nakashima, " [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090601386.html Terrorism Watch List Is Faulted For Errors; Justice Dept. Official Urges Improvement] ," "Washington Post", September 7, 2007; Page A12.]

The TSDB is fed from two primary sources: international terrorist (IT) information from the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and domestic terrorist (DT) information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The TSDB has the names of all known and suspected terrorists in the twelve databases described in the April 2003 GAO report entitled, "Information Technology: Terrorist Watch Lists Should Be Consolidated to Promote Better Integration and Sharing." [ [http://hsgac.senate.gov/_files/BucellaTestimony.pdf "Passport Information Sharing with Department of State."] Statement of Donna A. Brucella, Director, Terrorist Screening Center, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, June 29, 2005.] The twelve databases that are currently incorporated into TSC are:

*1. Consular Lookout and Support System (CLASS) - Department of State
*2. Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE) - National Counterterrorism Center
*3. Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) - Department of Homeland Security
*4. No-fly list - Department of Homeland Security
*5. Selectee list - Department of Homeland Security
*6. National Automated Immigration Lookout System (NAILS) - Department of Homeland Security migrated to Treasury Enforcement Communication System (TECS)
*7. Criminal Justice Information Services Division Warrant Information - Department of Justice
*8. Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization File (VGTOF) - Department of Justice
*9. Interpol Terrorism Watch List - Department of Justice
*10. Air Force Office of Special Investigations Top Ten Fugitive List - Department of Defense
*11. Automated Biometric Identification System - Department of Homeland Security
*12. Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System - Department of Justice

The Justice Department's Office of Inspector General has criticized the list for frequent errors and slow response to complaints. Until recently, the list included Nelson Mandela. An [http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/FBI/a0741/final.pdf OIG audit] found that 38% of a 105 record sample contained inaccuracies. The FBI has said it is redressing errors, and a 2006 review of the no-fly list reduced its size by half, from 71,872 records to 34,230 records.Ellen Nakashima, " [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090601386.html Terrorism Watch List Is Faulted For Errors; Justice Dept. Official Urges Improvement] ," "Washington Post", September 7, 2007; Page A12.] [U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, [http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/FBI/a0741/final.pdf Follow-Up Audit of the Terrorist Screening Center] , September 2007.]

ee also

*Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)
*Travel technology

References

External links

* [http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/counterrorism/faqs.htm Why was the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) created?]
* [http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2007/07/watchlists We're All Terrorists! Watch List Makes 20k 'Matches' in '06]