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John Daley ReportingMore details are emerging now about Utah's involvement in Matrix--the multi-state anti-crime database--that critics have compared to "Big Brother."
Documents obtained by a citizen watchdog group show Utah was involved more deeply and earlier than state officials have said, and that former Governor Mike Leavitt helped spearhead the project.
Computers mining data about ordinary citizens, their private information, and who they associate with has long been the stuff of science fiction movies like the Matrix. But all that seems closer to reality since controversy erupted over the Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange--which links state's databases for criminal investigations, giving computers a way to sift through billions of documents.
In the panicky days after September 11th, former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt signed the state up for the program. Hundreds of documents obtained through a government records request and reviewed by KSL-TV and the Deseret News show Utah was a key player in promoting the program.
One document mentions a conference call for other governors to discuss Matrix, hosted by Florida's Jeb Bush--the president's brother--and Governor Leavitt. Critics say Leavitt could be considered one of the fathers of this Big Brother-like project.
Steve Erickson, Citizens Education Project: "Governor Leavitt apparently was quite involved in attempting to get other states to join in. So while there weren't a lot of documents pertaining to that, there were some indictors that in fact Governor Leavitt was one of the leaders of this project."
Leavitt, now federal environmental chief, has steadfastly refused to comment on the controversy. His spokesperson says the program was born out of high security concerns post 9-11and pre-2002 Games.
Other documents show Utah officials eagerly taking the lead, supplying data and technical support to network websites and state officials to chair committees.
Steve Erickson, Citizens Education Project: “So it was a much deeper involvement than we’ve been led to believe.”
Thirteen states including Utah signed up for the pilot program, but seven have now dropped out. Earlier this year, Governor Olene Walker put Utah's involvement in Matrix on hold and the legislature refused to continue funding it while a committee reviews the program. That committee meets next week.
