Reuters announced yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security is monitoring a list of “publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites and message boards.” The list includes:

* Facebook
* Myspace (they note that Myspace is difficult to search – imagine that)
* Twitter
* ABC News’ “The Blotter”
* Huffington Post
* Wired blogs
* Jihadwatch
* Hulu
* Youtube
* Flickr

The DHS says that they monitor these sites to “collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture…. and to provide… more timely information for decision makers.”

In other words, they read blogs, look at Facebook and watch Youtube to see what’s going on in the world.

What a concept.