DOJ to Spend $544k to Increase Presence on Linked-In

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Fri Jan 03, 2014 at 10:39:57 PM EST
Tags: Department of Justice (all tags)

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The Department of Justice signed a contract December 24 to pay $544,000 for an "enhanced profile" and increase its branding on the social networking site "Linked In." The recipient of the contract is Carahsoft Technology Corporation, and you can view the contract details here.

Here is DOJ's justification for avoiding the open-bidding process and what it gets for its money. Among the benefits: Full access to every Linked-In profile.

DOJ will be using Linked In to recruit new prosecutors.

This will include an enhanced company profile within a large-scale, professional networking platform, and targeted online job advertising to attract highly-qualified Criminal Division employees and intern applicants as well as use the already existing Criminal Division presence,” the document said.

I find this particularly inappropriate when sequester cuts are still in effect for federal defenders and indigent defense counsel. Federal defenders were laid off and furloughed, while Indigent defense counsel had their payment vouchers delayed for four weeks and their already reduced rates cut $15.00 an hour until September, 2014.

Here is Chief Justice John Roberts' 2013 end of year State of the Judiciary report. The judiciary cuts from sequester amounted to $350 million.

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DOJ to Spend $544k to Increase Presence on Linked-In | 32 comments (32 topical)

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Call me cynical but... (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Mr Natural on Sat Jan 04, 2014 at 08:08:46 PM EST

... it sounds more like they want to scoop up 250,000,000 names and resumes. If those resumes are as fantasy filled as some I've had to read, John Poindexter's legacy, Total Information Awareness, is about to receive a heaping helping of Total B/S.

My thoughts exactly (none / 0) (#8)
by ruffian on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 12:32:36 PM EST

Also they will be more likely to have their own staff poached by headhunters than to find anyone valuable to hire.


Will I get repeated, unsolicited emails (none / 0) (#9)
by oculus on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 12:55:51 PM EST

Requesting I puff DOJ on linked-in?


: Ha - probably. You can endorse their skills. (none / 0) (#11)
by ruffian on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 03:14:04 PM EST

Linked in (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by lentinel on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 05:38:35 AM EST

is another one of those social - networking sites that I have avoided these last years. Something creepy about the insistence in their repeating mails about someone "inviting" you to join...

Huffpo (now run by AOL) now requires that you join Facebook in order to comment.

Maybe for some, Facebook is a necessity. But so far, it has been one that I have avoided as well.

Both of them have been revealed as sources for data collection by third parties including a government run amok.

No thanks.

I'm not a member of Linkedin, but, (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by NYShooter on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 01:36:32 AM EST

I know many people who are. It's just a very large business networking site, and , just about every executive, from the highest to the lowest, belong to it. The people I know who are members swear by it and have been very happy with the connections they've made there.

As an example: when my son moved to Tennessee a couple of years ago he didn't know a soul there. He's in the asphalt maintenance business, so he punched that up in his Linkeden account, and, almost immediately, half a dozen pros and executives in the industry contacted him with offers to help. My son told him his situation, and, before long they had referred him to several dozen decision makers in the industry. I don't know how much business he got out of it other than it was a lot.

Used correctly, it can be a very positive addition to your network, whether you're looking for a career move, want to hire someone, or just need advice. People just have a natural propensity to want to help others in their field, and the idea is, of course, "I help you today, maybe, someday, you'll be in a position to help me."

I understand the data gathering aspect, but, that's pretty much S.O.P. anywhere you go on the "Net." HuffPo and Facebook scoop up, and sell info on everyone, and give you back nothing but the normal social network yakety yak.

Let's say you're into restoring and selling 70's Chrysler "Muscle Cars." Where else can you contact a Chrysler Vice President of product development, and ask him advice about your intentions. Normally, anybody trying to contact a Vice President of one of The Big Three automakers gets a brush off, or a form letter. But, the idea with Linkeden is that it's a fraternity, and it's considered poor protocol to brush off a beginner just because you're a big shot. In fact, it's exactly that feature that has made Linkeden one of the fastest growing companies on Wall Street, and, it's stock price has skyrocketed accordingly.

I see (none / 0) (#17)
by lentinel on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 04:52:38 AM EST

what you are saying.

If it is a useful tool for you, or anyone, great.
Same for Facebook.

But, the aspect of these outfits that allows uninvited third parties, especially Mr. Snoopy, to copies of all of the personal information they have gathered is very distasteful - and from my point of view, unnecessary.

It is a trade-off.

If an individual considers that the benefit outweighs the discloser of personal information to third parties, that is a choice that I can understand anyone making.

In any case, I am glad that it worked for your son.


I would add (none / 0) (#18)
by lentinel on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 06:19:45 AM EST

to my reply below, something that I feel about things like Linked in.

It reminds me of the trade-off we are supposed to feel and accept regarding the snooping by our government upon our emails, calls etc.

We are supposed to feel it as something we are to accept because it is necessary to keep us safe.

With organizations like LinkedIn or Facebook, we are made to feel that the immediate benefit of potential financial reward or professional advancement outweighs the fact that our personal information will be collected by various commercial outfits - as well as the government for their own purposes.

It seems to me that if people protested this practice of allowing a so-called social or professional network to share personal information with government agencies, they might be forced to acquiesce and conduct themselves in a more professional manner. Perhaps their stock would go down were they to refuse to go along with the wishes of their clients and shareholders.

I do not mean this comment to be judgemental.
I am just questioning at what point do we say, "enough"?


I'm sorry you feel that way, but (none / 0) (#21)
by NYShooter on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 10:58:22 AM EST

I do understand. I don't think there's anybody here on TL, or anywhere else, for that matter, who's more cynical than me regarding our government's agenda, or business's. But, unless you think a Bolshevik type revolution here is in the cards the best you can do is learn how to navigate in the system we have.

Now, there are social networking sites whose primary, or only, goal is to gather and sell information about you. Then, there are other sites that actually have a business plan, provide a real service, and divulge information about you only when compelled to by an official entity of our government.

In other words, it is what it is. But, you're not a potted plant. I understand your anger and frustration. But, permanent venting is not a viable plan. Learn how to navigate within our system to gain what benefits you can from it. What else can I say?


I completely (none / 0) (#23)
by lentinel on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 11:52:51 AM EST

agree with you.


: Lentinel, thank you! (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by NYShooter on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 01:49:33 PM EST

I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.
Made my day!
(now, you see what I mean? With all the "Yuch" we have to contend with, little things mean a lot.)
lol

And yet (none / 0) (#20)
by jbindc on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 08:25:48 AM EST

You post here. You don't think if someone in "the government" really wanted to find you, they wouldn't look places like TL? It wouldn't be hard to find IP address from where you registered your account or where you post most often and track you down from there.

Why do you consider things like Facebook or LinkedIn any different?


As If Linkin... (none / 0) (#24)
by ScottW714 on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 12:43:28 PM EST

...is more interesting to a government than a website about politics and the law. In the hierarchy of site being spied on, TL is surely grades ahead of Linked In.

Facebook is probably grades ahead of both just because because of it's size and the number of idiots who post their illegal acts on it, usually with a nice video.
--------

Linked In has my info although I never gave it to them, Google my name and my work address shows up, really ticks me off. I have asked them numerous times to remove my info, they always say no problem, but about once a month I get an invite. It comes to my work address, so a coworker or my office added the info.

I absolutely hate Linked In and I have never had a Facebook page.

And FYI, if your employer (not you JB) is using Linked In to hire, leave because only really slow people think Linked In is a good resource for getting a job and your company is hiring them. I forget, which part of our government is using Linked In, exactly, might explain where Bush got Myers, Gonzo, and Yoo.


You may not be able to escape it (none / 0) (#26)
by jbindc on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 01:08:18 PM EST

They're Watching You at Work

And we are being watched in stores, on city streets, in public transportation hubs, and every time you do a financial transaction - swipe a credit card, whatever. Staying off Facebook and LinkedIn really isn't going to do much if you think the government is out to get you.


If you think the government is out to get you (none / 0) (#29)
by Coral Gables on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 02:47:12 PM EST

You likely have far bigger issues than worrying about a social networking site. That alien chip that was implanted in your arm while sleeping should be a much bigger worry.


: I don't think the government is out to get me (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by jbindc on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 03:41:46 PM EST

And I wondered where I got that scar on my arm!

A variation on this... (none / 0) (#31)
by vml68 on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 03:44:48 PM EST

And FYI, if your employer (not you JB) is using Linked In to hire, leave because only really slow people think Linked In is a good resource for getting a job and your company is hiring them.

My husband has been contacted through LinkedIn from employers who would like to hire him. They use LinkedIn because they are competitors and want to be discreet when contacting him. Calling him at work or e-mailing him at work would cause problems.


I've been able to (none / 0) (#32)
by jbindc on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 03:46:05 PM EST

get a few informational interviews through mutual connections.

I don't think it's a bad tool at all.


Agreed... (none / 0) (#33)
by ScottW714 on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 04:35:48 PM EST

...but I just had this conservation with my friends. One mentioned the new person they hired for recruiting was scanning Linked-In looking for hires. Granted he is sales, which is entire different beast, but he told her he'd make some calls and find out whose pulling in the sales in his industry. He gave her a list and told to find out who is unhappy and press them hard.

My point is my friend said they don't want the folks who washed out at Linked In, they want the people who are hot. Again, sales is not the same, but the same methodology applies, we just don't have numbers to prove how good we are.

As mentioned above, it's a good tool, but you have to realize its a sort of Facebook for 'professionals' who don't want those folks actually knowing about the real them, or rather, the them they put out for their friends.

There is surely some really good people out there, but my point was if that is what a company is using to hire, they are probably going to end up with some real duds. Word of mouth will always be the best way, not networking, but making sure if your name gets brought up in a professional discussion no one has anything bad to say. IOW never burn a bridge, even one that need to be fire bombed, ever.

As big as Houston is, I probably know half the folks in sales tax, or at least have met them. We are all related and I think a lot of fields are like this, where no matter where you go, you are going to run into someone you worked with or worked with people you know. I hate networking, but I do go out for beers with people I like in the field just to keep my name in circulation so if something comes up i will get word.

Over networking, which is what Linked-In and all these networking lunches/dinners can be counter-productive IMO. TMI is always a bad thing when looking for a job, keep it vague until you are in front of a human being.


: Absolutely (none / 0) (#34)
by jbindc on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 04:43:08 PM EST

As much as I love to talk (and talk, and talk, sometimes), I am terrible at networking and hate it with the fire of a thousand suns.
Although, LinkedIn could be a first way to network - I think miost people would rather give the time of day to someone with whom they have a mutual connection, rather than some person who cold calls them.
And as you said - sales is a completely different beast.
But like anything, I think you have to be careful what you put out there.

A little searching (none / 0) (#2)
by Mikado Cat on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 01:34:28 AM EST

and it looks like Carahsoft is some kind of middle man between Fed and dozens of other companies, sweet deal if you can get it.

Linkedin data may be bad, but a twisted thought is that people who lie on resumes and Linked in may be easy for a big data aggregator to detect and possibly exploit.

Is this crime policy (none / 0) (#5)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 09:56:38 AM EST

Or is it crony capitalist policy?

: The best self-aggrandizing capitalists (none / 0) (#6)
by jondee on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 11:48:52 AM EST

take a legitimate problem and exploit it to the nth degree..
Which happens whether the democrats are on power or the marvelous, holy republicans are.

: Is this a question ... (none / 0) (#7)
by Yman on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 12:31:56 PM EST

... or an accusation?

Thanks for the posting. (none / 0) (#12)
by Chuck0 on Sun Jan 05, 2014 at 06:46:35 PM EST

Just closed my LinkedIn account. Had been considering it, this sealed the deal.

Exactly what (none / 0) (#16)
by NYShooter on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 01:40:09 AM EST

"sealed the deal?"


: See Mr. Natural's (none / 0) (#22)
by Chuck0 on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 11:00:04 AM EST

comment #1.

Hey Chuck (none / 0) (#25)
by ScottW714 on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 12:50:57 PM EST

Is it that easy ?

I have never had an account, but they have my info, as I explained above, when I Google my name, Linked In has my work address and phone number listed. I have asked them to remove it numerous times, they always say no problem, but it's still there and I still get a about one request a month to join.

I didn't want to sign up out of fear that I have to click a box that gives them complete access to my information, but if I can sign in, remove all of it, and then close the account, I will.

Times like this when I wish I wasn't the only person in the world with my name, there is no mistaken that it's me. There might be 20 of us with my last name in the US, and a castle in Germany bearing the same last name, but only one Scott and on the internet, that sucks.


: See? (none / 0) (#27)
by jbindc on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 01:14:36 PM EST

You want your privacy protected and don't want to join FB or LinkedIn, but you gave enough information that if someone wanted to figure out who you are, it would be pretty easy to find you.
Gotta be careful.

I just photoed my niece for (none / 0) (#13)
by ZtoA on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 01:19:38 AM EST

linked-in. She is just about to graduate from college and it seems that all the kids feel it is necessary to 'do' linked-in. I actually had a wonderful time photographing her looking "professional" and photoshopping it. I've done that with a couple of my young relatives. I've never done linked-in so I'm not sure why they think it is necessary to participate in it, but they do.

I'm an 'older user' of social networks (as I suspect others here are) and am thus much more skeptical of them than the 20 somethings. I go on facebook every few months but did recently to announce a show I'm having in chicago. I'm from Portland and I do not have a winter coat - a couple of very nice rain coats do me well here, but I get into Chicago when the high will be -10 and the lows in the -20s. So I went online to shop for a coat. And then on facebook I see all these ads for the coats that I had just looked at!! I was seriously creeped out and complained to one of my 20 something kids who seemed to think that was 'just the way it is'.

I get that this is a postmodern world and "networks" are the now and the future. This, apparently, is not shocking to young people, but it is to me. I'm the old aunt and mum who goes on and on at dinner about "privacy" and being careful and mindful about their social networking. Linked-in and facebook are expected social network sites that young people are EXPECTED to participate in. Thank you J for keeping an eye on it! I forward your posts on the subject.

: Check my comment (none / 0) (#15)
by NYShooter on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 01:39:00 AM EST

#14, above.
Good luck.

Linked and FaceB (none / 0) (#19)
by Mikado Cat on Mon Jan 06, 2014 at 06:27:48 AM EST

both use the same strategy, default push to invite anybody you have any connection to.

Family events pushed me into joining Facebook, but too much of a time sink, now I use it to login as post comments in blogs, almost never visit the facebook pages, the emails I get telling me what or who posted seem adequate to follow what is going on.

Linked I have avoided so far, but I know plenty that kind of like it. If the economy ever really improves something like Linked so suck all the good employees out of company in a flash.