US "invents" software to track press

A GROUP of US universities, backed with Homeland Security Department cash, is developing software that could let a government monitor negative opinions of the United States or its leaders.

According to the New York Times, the 'sentiment analysis' software is designed to identify potential threats to the nation by looking at articles published by the alien press.

Intelligence gathering experts have been reading the papers for years to work out who does not like the US, but this software will allow fast and comprehensive monitoring of the global news media.

Apparently the software ignores the home press, which Homeland Security does not believe is a threat to the Government.

Homeland Security hopes that the software will understand 'the rhetoric' that is being published and how intense it is, such as the difference between dislike and excoriation.

What the New York Times failed to ask was what would happen if the US found out that a nation really didn't like it, its leaders or its companies. This is pretty important as a cruise missile could be winging its way to Sofia as we speak.

More here. µ