	Current Controversy over Total Information Awareness Programs

Established in January 2002 under retired Admiral John Poindexter, USN, the mission of theInformation Awareness Office (IAO) in the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA)is to develop new tools to detect, anticipate, train for, and provide warnings about potential terroristattacks. If proven effective, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technologyand Logistics Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge has suggested that the TIA technology prototypes will beturned over to "intelligence, counterintelligence and law enforcement communities as a tool to helpthem in their battle against domestic terrorism." (2)
In a press conference on November 20, 2002, Under Secretary Aldridge stated that funding for the Total Information Awareness System (TIA) is $10 million in FY2003. (3) On February 7, 2003,he reiterated that funding for the TIA project is $10 million in FY2003 and $20 million in FY2004.The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a non-profit organization specializing in privacyissues, calculated that TIA-related programs totaled $112 million in FY2003 and $240 million forthe three-year period, FY2001-FY2003. (4) Pressreports also cited funding of over $200 million overthree years. (5)
These alternative funding levels reflect the difference between the $10 million in funding for the R&D specifically labeled the "Total Information Awareness System" that would integratevarious R&D technology efforts, and the $137.5 million in funding for various R&D efforts managedby the Information Awareness Office that could become part of that system. Reflecting both these viewpoints, P.L. 2) the FY2003 Consolidated Appropriations Resolution requires that the Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence(DCI), and the Attorney General submit to Congress a detailed report on TIA by May 20, 2003 orface a cutoff in funding (see Restrictions on TIA in FY2003 Consolidated Appropriations Resolution later in this report for more details). In the meantime, TIA programs are continuing. (11) DARPA'sFY2003 request for the R&D efforts managed by the Information Awareness Office totaled $137.5million in FY2003 (see Table 1 below), including $10 million for the integrative efforts specificallylabeled the Total Information Awareness System, a new start in FY2003. Future Funding for Information Awareness Office Programs

For FY2004, DARPA is requesting $169.2 million for TIA programs and $170.3 million in FY2005. (27)
Other Members of Congress have also signaled concerns about the TIA system. (28)

	Issues for Congress

In addition to concerns raised by members of Congress and public interestgroups about protecting the privacy of U.S. citizens, Congress may continue toaddress oversight issues, including:
developing monitoring mechanisms for TIA programs; and
assessing the technical feasibility of the program. (32)
DARPA's efforts at collaboration reflect the fact that there are potentially many users of any tools that DARPA develops to predict terrorist threats. (38)
P.L. 108-7 , testing outside of DOD mayalso be subject to rigorous oversight. Getting access, 'cleaning up,' and integrating large data bases may pose significantchallenges in developing a TIA system.
Late last year controversy erupted about a Department of Defense (DOD) R&D effort called Total Information Awareness (TIA) under an office headed by retired Admiral John D. Poindexterwithin the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). By integrating various newtools designed to detect, anticipate, train for, and provide warnings about potential terrorist attacks,DARPA hopes to develop a prototype Total Information Awareness system. This system wouldintegrate a number of ongoing R&D efforts, referred to in this paper as Total Information Awarenessprograms. While concern has centered primarily on privacy issues, accounts of the program'sfunding have also differed. This report covers the funding, composition, oversight, and technicalfeasibility of TIA programs. The privacy implications are addressed in CRS Report RL31730 , Privacy: Total Information Awareness Programs and Related Information Access, Collection, andProtection Laws, by Gina Marie Stevens.
In a press interview, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge, stated that the Total Information Awareness project is funded at $10million in FY2003 and $20 million in FY2004. Other reports indicated higher funding levels of over$100 million in FY2003 and over $200 million for the three-year period, FY2001 - FY2003.
Different accounts of funding levels reflect the fact that DARPA is funding both an integrative effort called the TIA system, as well as 16 individual R&D efforts or TIA programs that could becombined to create that system. In FY2003, DARPA is dedicating $10 million to integrate variousR&D efforts into a prototype TIA system, and $137.5 million for the various R&D programs thatcould make up that system and that are managed by the Information Awareness Office (IAO) headedby Poindexter. Funding for these programs total $137.5 million in FY2003 and $317.0 million forFY2001-FY2003. DOD is requesting $169.2 million for TIA programs in FY2004 and $170.3 inFY2005, and $20 million in FY2004 and $24.5 million in FY2005 for the TIA system integration.These TIA programs are ongoing.
In response to concerns about TIA programs, Congress included special oversight provisions -- known as the Wyden amendment -- in the FY2003 Consolidated Appropriations Resolution ( P.L.108-7 ) requiring that the Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence and the AttorneyGeneral submit a detailed joint report on TIA programs by May 20, 2003, or face a cutoff in funding.Senator Feingold, Senator Grassley and other Members also proposed restrictions on data miningin the DOD and the new Department of Homeland Security.
In light of the report required by P.L. 108-7 , hearings on TIA programs are likely in the 108th Congress. In addition to privacy concerns, Congress may also address several oversight issues forTIA programs including monitoring collaboration between DARPA and potential users in the lawenforcement and intelligence communities and assessing the technical feasibility of the project. Thisreport will be updated as necessary.