June 18, 2004—The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as part of its Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) initiative, recently announced the implementation of its Internet-based counterterrorism communications system by homeland security officials, state and local leadership, and first responders during the G-8 Summit events at Sea Island, Georgia. The system will also be implemented for other upcoming National Security Special Events as well as in connecting states, territories, Washington, DC, and 50 major urban areas to strengthen the exchange of information.
The HSIN initiative is supported by the Joint Regional Information Exchange System (JRIES) that was originally developed by state and local authorities in partnership with the federal government. This system allows all states and major urban areas to collect and disseminate information between federal, state, and local agencies involved in combating terrorism. The network is a secure 24/7 real-time collaborative tool that has interactive connectivity with the Department’s Homeland Security Operations Center. This secure system significantly strengthens the exchange of real-time threat information at the Sensitive-but-Unclassified (SBU) level to all users.
