Contractors investigated for misuse of IT

Technologies developed for federal government may have been used to \"harm U.S. citizens on behalf of clients in the private sector.\"

Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia wants to know if data security firms used cyber tools and counterterrorism techniques inappropriately. HBGary Federal, Berico Technologies, and Palantir Technologies are accused of planning to submit a proposal to a law firm representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to hack and sabotage political opponents, including labor unions. The chamber has denied any knowledge of the proposal. The Washington Business Journal reports the law firm representing the chamber has declined to comment. Messages left with HBGary Federal and Palantir Technologies weren’t returned. Berico Technologies released a statement, saying that its leadership doesn’t condone any effort targeting American citizens and that it has discontinued all ties with HBGary Federal.

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