FBI Deputizes 23,000 Business Leaders.

I read an article in The Progressive which delves into the relationship that the FBI has forged with private industry in the form of an organization called Infragard. It was formed in 1996 to combat cyber threats and has evolved into an organization over 23,000 strong watching and reporting across 17 matrixes.

"Today, more than 23,000 representatives of private industry are working quietly with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. The members of this rapidly growing group, called InfraGard, receive secret warnings of terrorist threats before the public does—and, at least on one occasion, before elected officials. In return, they provide information to the government, which alarms the ACLU. But there may be more to it than that. One business executive, who showed me his InfraGard card, told me they have permission to “shoot to kill” in the event of martial law."

"In November 2001, InfraGard had around 1,700 members. As of late January, InfraGard had 23,682 members. “350 of our nation’s Fortune 500 have a representative in InfraGard.”"

Read the full article by Matthew Rothschild, here.