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A '''fusion center''' is a [[terrorism]] prevention and response center that was started as a joint project between the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] and the [[United States Department of Justice|US Department of Justice]]'s Office of Justice Programs between 2003 and 2007.

The fusion centers gather information not only from government sources, but also from their partners in the private sector.<ref>Monahan, T. 2009. The Murky World of 'Fusion Centres'. Criminal Justice Matters 75 (1): 20-21.</ref><ref name="bob">http://www.securitymanagement.com/article/smashing-intelligence-stovepipes?page=0%2C1</ref> 

They are designed to promote information sharing at the federal level between agencies such as the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA), [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI), [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], [[United States armed forces|US Military]] and  state and local level government. {{As of|2009|7|df=US}}, the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] recognized at least seventy-two fusion centers.<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/28/broadcast_exclusive_declassified_docs_reveal_military Report on Fusion Centers] July 29, 2009 Democracy Now</ref> Fusion centers may also be affiliated with an Emergency Operations Center that responds in the event of a disaster.

State and local police departments provide both space and resources for the majority of fusion centers. The analysts working there can be drawn from DHS, local police, or the private sector. A number of fusion centers operate tip hotlines and also invite relevant information from public employees, such as sanitation workers or firefighters.<ref>Monahan, T. and Palmer, N.A. 2009. The Emerging Politics of DHS Fusion Centers. Security Dialogue 40 (6): 617-636.</ref> 

==Criticism==
There are a number of documented criticisms of fusion centers, including relative ineffectiveness at counterterrorism activities, the potential to be used for secondary purposes unrelated to counterterrorism, and their links to violations of civil liberties of American citizens and others.<ref>Monahan, T. and Palmer, N.A. 2009. The Emerging Politics of DHS Fusion Centers. Security Dialogue 40 (6): 617-636.</ref> 

===MIAC Report===
Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) made news in 2009 for targeting supporters of [[Third party (politics)|third party]] candidates (such as [[Ron Paul]]), [[pro-life]] activists, and [[conspiracy theorists]] as potential [[militia]] members.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/23/fusion-centers-expand-criteria-identify-militia-members/</ref> [[Anti-war]] activists and Islamic lobby groups were targeted in Texas, drawing criticism from the [[ACLU]].<ref>http://www.securitymanagement.com/news/fusion-centers-under-fire-texas-and-new-mexico-005314</ref>

According to the [[Department of Homeland Security]]:<ref>Privacy Impact Assessment 
for the Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative December 11, 2008 [http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_ia_slrfci.pdf]</ref>

<blockquote>[T]he Privacy Office has identified a number of risks to privacy presented by the fusion center program:
<br>
#Justification for fusion centers 
#Ambiguous Lines of Authority, Rules, and Oversight 
#Participation of the Military and the Private Sector 
#Data Mining 
#Excessive Secrecy 
#Inaccurate or Incomplete Information 
#Mission Creep</blockquote>

===2009 Virginia Terrorism Threat Assessment===
In early April 2009, the Virginia Fusion Center came under criticism for publishing a terrorism threat assessment which stated that certain universities are potential hubs for terror related activity.<ref>http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Virginia_terror_assessment_targets_enormous_crosssection_0406.html</ref> The report targeted [[historically black colleges]] and identified [[hacktivism]] as a form of terrorism.<ref>http://rawstory.com/images/other/vafusioncenterterrorassessment.pdf</ref>

==See also==
* [[Surveillance]]
* [[ADVISE]]
* [[TALON]]
* [[Total Information Awareness]]
* [[Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://epic.org/privacy/fusion/ Information Fusion Centers and Privacy]  Information related to Fusion Centers and privacy. [[Electronic Privacy Information Center]] June 2008.
* [http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/privacy/fusion_update_20080729.pdf Fusion Center Update]  Report from the [[ACLU]] July 2008. 
*[http://www.it.ojp.gov/topic.jsp?topic_id=209 Fusion Center Guidelines] issued by the US Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs
*[http://www.cfr.org/publication/12689/ Council on Foreign Relations: Fusion Centers] 
*[http://www.terrorisminfo.mipt.org/pdf/NPS-Thesis-Intelligence-Fusion-Centers.pdf Thesis on Fusion Centers] by William A. Forsyth
*[http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/44220&65407 "Fusion Centers", July 15, 2010], ''Radio4All'' podcast about fusion centers and the [[Total Information Awareness]] program


{{expand|date=February 2009}}

[[Category:Counter-terrorism policy of the United States]]
[[Category:Surveillance]]
[[Category:2Fix]]