Facebook for Spies
A-Space, an online collaborative network for intelligence professionals at agencies such as the CIA, the FBI and the NSA, launched on September 22, 2008. The site has been nicknamed "Facebook for Spies," as it is built on the same basic structure as the popular social networks MySpace and Facebook. The goal, however, is to allow for a greater exchange of information between different employees and agencies, rather than fostering friendships and socializing.1
Fast Facts
- The A in A-Space stands for analyst2
- For analysts at 16 U.S. security agencies1
- The site was under testing for months before it's planned official launch, September 22, 20081
- Security clearance required in order to visit the site1
- Participation is voluntary1
- CIA has used Facebook to advertise job openings3
How it Works
The process of using A-Space begins as it would for any social network. Analysts sign up for the site and create a profile. Colleagues can then add notes to one another's profiles or even just monitor one another's A-Space activities and workspaces. The idea is to give analysts from 16 different agencies an open, secure place to share information, and to easily access available data from around the U.S. intelligence network.4
Quote
"It's every bit Facebook and YouTube for spies, but it's much, much more.. It's a place where not only spies can meet but share data they've never been able to share before."1
— Michael Wertheimer, assistant deputy director of national intelligence for analysis
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Intellipedia | Google Spy | FBI | CIA | NSA | MySpace | Facebook | Social Networking | Web 2.0 | Time Best Inventions
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