eevBLAB #38 - Digikey & The US Government Watchlist!

Digikey are checking orders against the US Denied Persons list and holding orders until you can prove your generic name is not that person on the list.
Also, Element14 doing a similar thing.

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[mikeselectricstuff]

Of course the Bad Guys ( and anyone falsely matching) wouldn't think of just using a false name on their account, would they?

[dcjkl]

As I understand it, the US Denied Persons List applies to any company that has presence in the US regardless of where your order is going to.

[AmxDude]

I’m in the US and I honestly cannot agree with you more

[lolhappyfaceftw]

lmao i once almost missed a flight because my name was on this watch list...i was 4 years old at the time

[tronicgr]

Happened to me but on USPS first class package sent to Egypt. Customs denied the package (arduino development kit) because the recipient's name was in watch list (Mohammad Ali). I think more than half population names there is that... lol

[theIpatix]

Is Dave building a clock with visible wires? Dangerous!

[sirflimflam]

5:49 "Screw the US government, screw the whole system" David L Jones is now on the US government watch list.

[MetalheadAndNerd]

Buy as much as possible directly from China. No US restrictions there and as China grows the US influence diminishes.

[flymypg]

I appeared on the TSA Watch List about a year after it came into existence. Every time I was flagged and delayed, I repeatedly raised holy hell with everyone in the entire chain: Ticket counter agent, manager, TSA rep, my Representative in Congrees and my Senator.

After about 9 months of this, the TSA asked me to submit an extensive form to provide MORE data, which I refused to do. This form was actually longer and more detailed than the forms I submitted for my security clearances with multiple US government agencies! If they couldn't even connect those dots, they certainly didn't deserve to get MORE information from me.

It was their data that was bad, it was entered without my participation or consent, and I had no reason to help them fix their mess. In fact, I had every incentive to make their errors as costly as possible for as long as possible, to encourage them to get a system that WORKED.

So I simply arrived for each flight 90 minutes earlier than normal, and made a great display of enjoying each new episode of Security Theater. I made sure that everyone else in line knew full well why things were slowed up, and why there was one less agent than needed.

I finally did learn how I got on the list: Back in the early days, ANY law enforcement officer could add ANYONE to the Watch List. A few months before I landed on the list, a police officer had made a complete mess of an otherwise simple traffic stop, and I had embarrassed him by getting his shift supervisor called to the scene to explain the law and his mistake to him. I still got a ticket, which I forced to go to trial, which was dismissed when the officer failed to show up. I then wrote a letter to everyone in that officer's chain of command, including my local city government, requesting that the officer be removed from traffic duty and give a simpler assignment until remedial training had been administered and passed (there is NO police duty simpler than traffic!).

Yeah, I may have pissed-off a few people. But the TSA eventually did change their Watch List input system, and did improve their screening. After about 3 years I finally fell off the list. I suspect my record there now says something like: "NEVER add this asshole back to the list!"

My work as a dutiful citizen? Achievement Unlocked!

[elbiggus]

I presume people who are up to no good would be using an assumed name so they'd pass unnoticed, but if they *weren't* working under an alias then Digikey has now let them know that they're under scrutiny enabling them to take evasive action, or even causing them to speed up their nefarious plan.

[DaveCurran]

One of those annoying things that only affects the bystanders and avoids the main target. Anyone on that list will probably use a made up name on their orders, and have no problems.

[scottmcmurtrie]

The problem is they add names to these watch lists, often without any means of identifying an actual individual. Worse yet, they won't even tell you why you are on a list. I went through this B.S. with the no fly list. Was pulled into a room, asked a lot of questions, then told me I was denied boarding. Wouldn't tell me why. Wouldn't give me a number to contact someone. They just gave me a form to mail in to dispute it. Took over a year to get it straightened out.

[AKATEATime]

We might as well retire the word "paranoia". "Intelligence" apparently means freaking out about every possible thing now.

[aussieben]

I have had a ebay warning come up while purchasing a gyro for a drone, that the item was restricted from export by the us bureau of industry and security, even though it was coming from china to Australia.

[JockMurphy]

On behalf of my country I would just like to apologize...

[FeastFamine]

I am an American and I had no idea. I'd get pissy too if the U.K. told me they were interfering in my purchases.

[tohopes]

Using names to match terrorists is almost as dumb as using permanent, unchangeable Social Security Numbers to validate access to bank and credit accounts.

[debraparker]

I just did a background test on myself, just playing around with a website and found out that I’m on the government watch list. Like why??

[BroooMC]

The US really needs to stay within it's own borders.
they have no jurisdiction over international shipping, because it's INTERNATIONAL.
Also by doing this the US is breaking Article 14 of the universal declaration of human rights:
"Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution."

[originalbluebuddha]

The US Government certainly cannot force UK companies & their Australian subsidiaries (nor even Australian subsidiaries of US companies) to do anything without the acquiescence of the UK & Australian governments. The US watch list is simply one of many that the FVEY participants share.

I'd suggest that instead of asking the internet at large for an explanation, you check with the individuals who are actually responsible for your discomfort. You elected them and they live in Canberra.