# How does one get Red-Flagged by the FBI?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-red-flagged-by-the-fbi/155899>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 18, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-red-flagged-by-the-fbi/155899 "2003-02-18T16:01:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-red-flagged-by-the-fbi/155899/1 "2003-02-18T16:01:40Z")

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I was just wondering how the FBI red-flags people? How do they know who is going where on the internet, and what content is considered _Red-flagable_? I know kiddie porn and other such things are red-flagable but what about other sites - that may aide terrorists?

I mean I have been in discussions on these boards where things like building bombs, where do terrorists strike next, and what’s the best way to strike the US has been discussed. How some that has not been red-flagged? Or has it?

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**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-red-flagged-by-the-fbi/155899/2 "2003-02-18T16:32:39Z")

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One way is by asking questions like this one 😉

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**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-red-flagged-by-the-fbi/155899/3 "2003-02-18T17:29:20Z")

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I’ve wondered that as well. Since the early 80s I’ve subscribed to Anarcho-commie punk zines like Maximumrockandroll and Profane Existence, ordered stuff (mostly T-shirts, but a few books) from subversive lit distros like AK Press and Loompanics, registered to vote once as a socilaist and saw Jello Biafras spoken word shows a few times. I’ve always wondered if I’m on some list.

Jon

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**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-red-flagged-by-the-fbi/155899/4 "2003-02-18T17:41:06Z")

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I’d say if you hung outside the gates of Los Alamos with a cardboard sign that says **“CASH FOR PLUTONIUM”** you’d get some attention.

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**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-red-flagged-by-the-fbi/155899/5 "2003-02-18T17:53:03Z")

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[ul]:eek: **[sup]Rob a bank![/sup]**[/ul]