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Iowa Green Party
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004

Contact: David Larson, Iowa Media Coordinator dcl.trueleft@burningmail.com

IOWA GREEN PARTY CONDEMNS MATRIX "ANTI-TERRORISM" DATABASE, URGES THAT GOV. VILSACK REJECT STATE PARTICIPATION

Iowa City -- The Iowa Green Party opposes the erosion of citizens' privacy rights that would surely result from the state's participation in the "anti-terrorism" Matrix computer data system. We urge Gov. Vilsack to protect Iowans' traditional rights and liberties and to reject calls for including Iowa in the Matrix system.

As recently reported by the Associated Press, Matrix (Multistate Anti-terrorism Exchange) is an online quick-access information repository that combines state criminal and correctional records with citizens' personal information such as voting registration, U.S. domain names, digitalized photos and directory assistance listings.

The Matrix system is currently used by six states. Seven others have already opted out in the face of a growing national outcry over constitutional rights concerns. According to a spokesman for Gov. Vilsack contacted recently by the A.P., the Governor will make a decision on Iowa's Mastrix participation following the recommendation of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The Iowa Green Party has already been active in organizing against threats posed to civil liberties by the USA Patriot Act. Greens across the state have protested the Patriot Act and joined with other peace and social justice activists to urge Iowa city councils to adopt resolutions affirming traditional rights.

Now, we recognize that Matrix is similar to the Pentagon information collection system that last year lost Congressional funding. Civil liberties supporters, including Greens, had criticized the Pentagon system as intrusive and a "big brother" tool for spying on law-abiding citizens.

We believe the legitimate cause of combatting terrorism is being exploited by authoritarian governmental and corporate interests to the detriment of citizens' constitutional rights. Matrix would give to police and CIA officials information-gathering powers far  beyond what is reasonably necessary for national security protection.

We urge Gov. Vilsack, the Dept. of Public Safety and all of Iowa's officials to pledge renewed support for constitutional freedoms, honor the cause of civil liberties, and reject Iowa participation in Matrix.

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