GOV/MIL FBI using Burning Man to test Intel Tech.

Housecarl

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-new-intelligence-collection-technology.html

Undercover FBI agents spy on Burning Man festival to prevent 'terrorism' and test out new 'intelligence collection' technology

-FBI agents have been 'intelligence gathering' at the alternative festival since 2010, they admitted
-They claimed it was needed to 'aid in the prevention of terrorist activites and intelligence collection'
-But the methods used to secretly collect information have been redacted
-The 29th Burning Man festival is taking place in Nevada this week
-The FBI said 'free expression' among attendees was actively encouraged


By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: 03:40 EST, 2 September 2015 | Updated: 12:13 EST, 2 September 2015
Comments 200

The FBI has admitted to gathering secret intelligence about the annual Burning Man festival since 2010.

In response to a request under the 2012 Freedom of Information Act, the security service said its Special Events Management unit has kept files on festival-goers, known as 'burners' - to 'aid in the prevention of terrorist activites and intelligence collection'.

But the FBI's 16-page response to the question by Inkoo Kang is heavily redacted, with information about the technology being used to secretly gather the information being blanked out.

The revelation comes as the 29th Burning Man takes place in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.

The FBI document describes the festival as a 'cultural and artisan event, which promote (sic) free expression by the participants'.

The FBI said its involvement was 'even more critical in the light of the ongoing war on terrorism and the potential for additional acts of terrorism being committed in the United States.'

But later the FBI warns: 'The greatest known threat in this event is crowd control issues and use of illegal drugs by participants.'

The heavily-redacted document said that the Las Vegas FBI will work with all appropriate law enforcement agencies on the material it gathers.

The event is held in a remote area, branded Black Rock City, which is twelve miles from the nearest town, Gerlach, and 75 miles from Reno, Nevada.

MuckRock.com reported that Inkoo Kang submitted the FIOA request about he FBI's involvement in the annual event.

According to the FBI report, participants, who are into 'free expression', pay a fee to enter the area. 'Once inside, the participants access to the venues is unrestricted.'

One redacted section of the 16-page document referred to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Burning Man, currently in its 29th year, begins on the last Monday of August and ends on the first Monday of September, for a week of festivities centered around art and alternative living.

Since money is effectively outlawed at the site, guests are urged to barter for commodities and many fans have already taken to social media offering to swap items such as crystals for festival tickets.

The entire campsite is temporary, and participants are required to bring everything with them, from food to tents and even furniture.

Every year, several massive 'temples' are built according to a theme, and on the last day, they are burned down in a ritualistic ceremony.
 

hammerhead

Veteran Member
'The greatest known threat in this event is crowd control issues and use of illegal drugs by participants.'

The event organizers have the first handled, I believe.

As for the second, people taking drugs out in the middle of a desert is a threat? To who?
 

Publius

TB Fanatic
what exactly is this burning man festival about?



Its about many things like freedom of expression, and freedom in general. Burning Man is the wildest show on earth where no one gets hurt by anyone else.
For some reason, some within federal government have major issues with this event and even have the local authorities even working for them to shut it down.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
Never been, but reports from friends would suggest that the FBI is wasting tax payer dollars in a big way; oh I could understand a one-time look in on things but other than massive drug use and anarchy (with lots of sex, MS is probably right on that one) I can't see how there is any threats to the US involved.

Instead, sounds like an easy way for agents to look busy and really professional without really having to do much; but then that tends to go on a lot in most Federal Agencies and I've worked in several...
 

Mark D

Now running for Emperor.
It's an excuse for some agents to go to Burning Man on the taxpayer's dime.
 

Weps

Veteran Member
what exactly is this burning man festival about?

Think Woodstock, on steroids, but LOTS more drugs, with some odd and interesting forms of expressionism. Also, lots of nudity.

I worked Bonaroo doing merch, twice, which was enough for me.

I know a few people that have gone (and go) to Burning Man, it's literally a place where you can be open and expressive, weather that be promiscuous, monogamous, doing all manner of mind altering substances, drinking who knowns what, they encourage you to assume a new persona while there, known as your Playa name.

Lots of what you'd expect to find, various booths offering vegan foods, hemp items, mobile headshops, meditation spots, lots of music vendors, various expressive art exhibits, ect...
 

CELLO

Veteran Member
Ah, the infamous Black Rock Desert sandstorm going on there now. I used to go there a few times a year in the '90s to fly large hobby rockets.
 
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