topic FOIA Request in Community Chat

FOIA Request

Marp — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:47:37 GMT

Have you ever filed a FOIA request for any files the NSA or FBI might have on you? If so, how long did it take to get a response?

Before the posts start about not having done anything to have a file all it takes is a Tweet that is considered politically subersive, attending a protest or signing a oppositional petition. Don't like a political figure and voice it loud and clear--there is a chance the FBI or NSA knows about it and you may be monitored. Like someone that speaks out against the government and follow them? You likely have a file.

It really doesn't take much to have a file so the only way to know for sure is to ask.

Re: FOIA Request

missy1 — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:51:22 GMT

Wouldn't it put up a red flag if you requested this?

Re: FOIA Request

Snowpuppy — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:52:19 GMT

Oh, I do this all the time while waiting for my pedi to dry.

Re: FOIA Request

sunshine45 — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:52:29 GMT

If the information you want is not publicly available, you can submit a FOIA request to the agency's FOIA Office. The request simply must be in writing and reasonably describe the records you seek. Most federal agencies now accept FOIA requests electronically, including by web form, e-mail or fax.

How to Make a FOIA Request - FOIA.gov

www.foia.gov/how-to.html

As of early 2016, the average processing time for a "simple" FOIA request is a little over one month, while more complex ones take over 80 days. You can check the status of your USCIS FOIA request online using the control number that was given to you when your request was received.

Re: FOIA Request

sunshine45 — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:57:35 GMT

i might have a file, but i am not worried about what may or may not be in it. i do have dual citizenship (even though i was born in this country), so maybe that is a trigger?

when i travel i usually get those "we have randomly checked your bags" notices from the TSA. random usually means sometimes, not ALL THE TIME! it is amusing.

i have no doubt the government can get any information they want easily and quickly.....including what brand of bra i prefer. LOL

Re: FOIA Request

Buck-i-Nana — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 23:58:07 GMT

@sunshine45 - I'm surprised to see that month for a simple request. There is an automatic clock that starts from the moment a FOIA request is received by any agency. The standard clock for a simple request is supposed to be 10 days.

@Marp - you are aware that a FOIA request is not free right? While not expensive, there are charges involved for the research time and any copying/printing etc. You can put a "not to exceed $ amt" in your request.

I had to deal with a number of FOIAs submitted to the Air Force and we had to jump through major hoops and document everything.

Re: FOIA Request

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:05:12 GMT

Having a permit to carry a concealed firearm probably warrants a file. I can't think of anything else about me that would cause a 'red flag'.

Re: FOIA Request

Mj12 — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:07:18 GMT

Hi @Marp. Have I done this? No, I guess I haven't been curious enough. I suppose if someone wants to apply for a govt job, may be a good idea to ensure there isn't any incorrect info in there.

Re: FOIA Request

Marp — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:13:24 GMT

@Buck-i-Nana,

Thanks for the information. I am aware of possible charges but got conflicting information about time frames so I was hoping someone here could answer.

Re: FOIA Request

Nancy Drew — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:38:11 GMT

Sometimes it is best to just contact the government offices for accurate info. While nice to be helpful a shopping message board is not always the best way to go.

Re: FOIA Request

MarieIG — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:31:18 GMT

Nope, and if there is one about me, it would probably have put the agents all to sleep.

Re: FOIA Request

scotnovel — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:34:25 GMT

A friend of mine has done this a couple of times and it took up to 3 months to get the info. The first time he requested info was several years ago. He had protested against the Viet Nam war and was curious if that had created a file. His protests were all peaceful nothing involving burning buildings on campuses or anthing like that. It is your right as a citizen to see what the government has. However, I think that people may be overly paranoid now. I doubt very much, for example, if a file is developed on someone based on a tweet unless it is quite subversive.

Re: FOIA Request

brii — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 00:55:00 GMT

I have no desire to do anything like that.

If I'm in a "file," it can't be anything too exciting.

Re: FOIA Request

Mj12 — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 01:16:38 GMT

@brii wrote:
I have no desire to do anything like that.

If I'm in a "file," it can't be anything too exciting.

Hi @brii. I would definitely be in the boring file!

I'm curious now - has anyone seen one? I wonder what kinds of things are in it.

Re: FOIA Request

Marp — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 01:55:43 GMT

@Mj12 wrote:
@brii wrote:
I have no desire to do anything like that.

If I'm in a "file," it can't be anything too exciting.
Hi @brii. I would definitely be in the boring file!

I'm curious now - has anyone seen one? I wonder what kinds of things are in it.

I have seen two NSA reports. Both were requested because they learned through a third party that because they were FB friends they were tied to the third party.

Without going into detail there was information from FB posts to their walls, blogs they read, post on or replied to, online groups they belong to, internet search information, online purchase and credit card information, travel information and even TV programs they watched and/or recorded. The most information was related to where they read and post on social media and who they associated with online.

There was more, almost all related to digital activity, but that is all I can recall. It was eye opening to say the least.

Re: FOIA Request

Irshgrl31201 — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 02:04:33 GMT

No but my husband always tells me my library book choices and internet searches will surely raise red flags. lol.

Re: FOIA Request

brii — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 02:13:27 GMT

Hi, @Mj12

Nobody worry - I won't spill the beans on what people post here - just in case the FBI asks. LOL

Re: FOIA Request

hckynutjohn — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 08:53:49 GMT

I don't have a clue and am not really interested or concerned. I already know how many times I have been arrested/taken to jail, and physically been detained(hands cuffed behind back). Also have my own journal of the laws I broke and the court decisions on all them.

Me worry? Nah!

hckynut(john)

Re: FOIA Request

maestra — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 12:45:48 GMT

What is FOIA?

Re: FOIA Request

gardenman — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 12:58:29 GMT

@maestra wrote:
What is FOIA?

Freedom of Inforamtion Act.

I'm sure they have a file on me. A cousin once worked in Oak Ridge National Laboratory and had to go through a major background check. Just before he started the job, the telephone company (someone in one of their trucks anyway) came by and put a "splice box" on our telephone line claiming it was worn in one section. This was a four inch square box about an inch thick which seemed like an odd way to splice a bad cable.That box stayed there until he moved on to another job at which point they came back, removed it and applied a real splice that's virtually unnoticeable. I'm quite confident that whatever was in that box wasn't there to splice the cable together but was instead monitoring our phone calls. It didn't matter to me as I do nothing wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's a file that exists with my name on it as a result of that.

Plus, as a writer, I've done some online searches for things like the Nuclear Emergency Search Team, various chemical and biological weapons, presidential assassinations, and other stuff that would raise red flags.