Net Meeting and the Department of Defense
The Northwest Airlines Flight 253 incident last December has left many people asking questions and rightfully so. As we learn more about the attempted bombing last December, and the intelligence failures, frenzied discussions are taking place. Clearly a way needs to be found to effectively coordinate efforts of the various agencies around the world.
How Netmeeting can Help
Companies with geographically diverse locations and connections have already begun to utilize net meeting with great effect. Cutting travel costs is the most obvious benefit, but it has many other practical advantages including:
- Remote assistance
- Sales force mobilization
- On the job training
- Remote learning
It seems reasonable to suggest that data conferencing tools could play a role in helping to coordinate intelligence efforts. If this sounds like a stretch, consider the fact that the Department of Defense (DOD) have already begun the use of pcanywhere tools to promote cooperation between agencies.
In fact, the DOD recently took steps to widen its net of partners who are able to access these tools. This outlook can be applied to efforts to ensure cooperation between intelligence agencies around the world. After all, this is exactly what web meetings are designed to do, remove the limitations of physical borders. Naturally it is nearly impossible to imagine just what goes into day-to-day counter terrorism activities. However, possible scenarios for utilizing web conferencing tools to this end include:
- Changes to no-fly lists and other such data can be quickly transmitted to agencies cooperating in the effort
- Immediate updates of new security procedures can be provided to all relevant parties
- New security measures can go much more smoothly, especially since all details would be fully worked out before the process starts
- Agencies involved can be quickly notified of any changes that will impact their efforts, and respond accordingly
Reports suggest that a few agencies have been slow to follow the new rules that have been outlined. This is partially responsible for the confusion being experienced by many travelers last year. Conferencing technology tools might not be a quick fix, but it could help to ensure that everyone is on the same page. If collaboration tools work so well for the DOD, they may just work for international counter terrorism agencies.
Processing your request, Please wait....
