>>>>>http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/08/government-knocking-doors-because-google-searches/67864/
>>>>
>>>>This is pretty dubious journalism.
>>>>The picture leads us to believe that the cops in the picture are the ones referred to in the story.
>>>>We read down a bit and we find that the picture has nothing to do with the story.
>>>>That would flunk this story in any course on journalism.
>>>>The report is taking the word of one person ("a professional writer")
>>>>I followed the "professional writer" link the story supplied and found some pretty weird stuff, so I'd like to know a little more about this writer before drawing any conclusions.
>>>>Did anyone ask the police for ID?
>>>>We get a report from the Guardian that someone at the FBI said that it was the Suffolk County police but no one can confirm that.
>>>>That's not much of a confirmation.
>>>>I have friends and family in both the Nassau and Suffolk PD's.
>>>>They're pretty fanatic about personal freedoms and go out of their way to protect them.
>>>>I'm taking this one with a pound of salt.
>>>
>>>More info at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/02/michele_catalano_home_visit_after_googling_backpacks_and_pressure_cookers/
>>
>>I'm a little confused about what is supposed to have happened here.
>>
>>The guy googles 'backpack' from work. His boss spots it and notifies the cops - but searching on 'backpack' isn't much grounds to start an investigation.
>>
>>Who then discovered, and linked, the fact that his wife had googled 'pressure cooker'.
>
>That seems to be the gist of it. Since the Boston Marathon event (pressure cooker bombs in backpacks) "backpack" is a loaded term, especially on the US East Coast.
>
>We're starting to see a mindset where "notifying the cops" in situations like this is considered a good, even noble deed. As has been amply shown in the past, an increase in informers and the rise of a police state go hand-in-hand.

"See something. Say something."