Travel Instagrammers, beware. Your excessive photo habits might just be mistaken as a sign of terrorist activity, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awareness campaign.
"Did you know photography and surveillance could be a sign of terrorism-related suspicious activity?" tweeted the DHS on Monday. "If you notice this, be sure to report it to local authorities."
The tweet is part of the Department's broader "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign, which encourages Americans to report "suspicious" behavior to local law enforcement agencies.
Although the webpage for "If You See Something, Say Something" does stipulate that people should only report "behavior that is reasonably indicative of criminal activity related to terrorism," users have taken issue with the vagueness of the language and the sentiment that photographers may now be in fear when exercising their First Amendment rights.
Among them, Frank LoMonte, the executive director of the University of Florida's Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, said, "When you look at what DHS identifies as the signs [and objects] of suspicious photography-'personnel, facilities, security features, or infrastructure'-it basically leaves squirrels as the only thing that's safe to photograph."
"That's a pretty breathtakingly broad inventory," he told the Columbia Journalism Review.
Not surprisingly, the Twitterverse is also weighing in on the DHS tweet.
A Twitter user identified as a lawyer for the National Press Photographers Association (@nppalawyer), also tweeted a concern over First Amendment rights.
Meanwhile, U.K. user @Spyblog asks how many photographers reported for suspicious behavior have ever turned out to be terrorists who weren't already under surveillance.
Although not reflected in the tweet, on its website, DHS notes:
"The 'If You See Something, Say Something®' campaign respects citizens' privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties by emphasizing behavior, rather than appearance, in identifying suspicious activity."
Factors such as race, ethnicity, and/or religious affiliation are not suspicious. The public should only report suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack or package, or someone breaking into a restricted area). Only reports that document will be shared with federal partners."
For the campaign, DHS has produced an infographic of 15 suspicious behaviors regular citizens should be on the lookout for, including "acquisition of expertise," "misrepresentation" and "eliciting information," as well as more overt behaviors such as "Operating or interfering with the operation of an aircraft that poses a threat of harm to people and property."
Back in 2016, the agency has also created a video targeting travelers, encouraging them to stay aware and report any suspicious behaviors. Through a partnership with the LodgeNet/SONIFI entertainment networks, the footage was displayed in hotel rooms across the nation.
"If You See Something, Say Something" has been around since (at least) 2007, when the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched and trademarked the nationwide campaign. Since then, the New York agency has granted permission to more than 50 entities, including Homeland Security, to legally adopt the slogan in their own anti-terrorism awareness efforts.
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