FBI Has Spied on Burning Man Festival Since 2010

By Darren Boyle, Daily Mail

04 September 15

1. FBI agents have been 'intelligence gathering' at the alternative festival since 2010, they admitted


2. They claimed it was needed to 'aid in the prevention of terrorist activites and intelligence collection'


3. But the methods used to secretly collect information have been redacted


4. The 29th Burning Man festival is taking place in Nevada this week


5. The FBI said 'free expression' among attendees was actively encouraged

he FBI has admitted to gathering secret intelligence about the annual Burning Man festival since 2010.

In response to a request under the 2012 Freedom of Information Act, the security service said its Special Events Management unit has kept files on festival-goers, known as 'burners' - to 'aid in the prevention of terrorist activites and intelligence collection'.

But the FBI's 16-page response to the question by Inkoo Kang is heavily redacted, with information about the technology being used to secretly gather the information being blanked out.

The revelation comes as the 29th Burning Man takes place in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.

The FBI document describes the festival as a 'cultural and artisan event, which promote (sic) free expression by the participants'.

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'Charcade'L Samuel Coniglio controls the flames by dancing at the Charcade during the Burning Man
2015 'Carnival of Mirrors'. (photo: Reuters)

The FBI said its involvement was 'even more critical in the light of the ongoing war on terrorism and the potential for additional acts of terrorism being committed in the United States.'  

But later the FBI warns: 'The greatest known threat in this event is crowd control issues and use of illegal drugs by participants. 

The heavily-redacted document said that the Las Vegas FBI will work with all appropriate law enforcement agencies on the material it gathers.

The event is held in a remote area, branded Black Rock City, which is twelve miles from the nearest town, Gerlach, and 75 miles from Reno, Nevada. 

MuckRock.com reported that Inkoo Kang submitted the FIOA request about he FBI's involvement in the annual event.  

According to the FBI report, participants, who are into 'free expression', pay a fee to enter the area. 'Once inside, the participants access to the venues is unrestricted.' 

Participants gather at the base of 'the Man' on Tuesday. Participants are still arriving from all over the world
for the sold-out festival. (photo: Reuters)

The FBI document, handed over in response to a Freedom of Information request, advises that the event
is 'considered cultural and artisan' and promotes 'free expression'. (photo: DailyMail.com)

The FBI said they would work with other agencies in the 'prevention of terrorism and intelligence gathering'.
(photo: DailyMail.com)

The FBI seems to believe that many of the participants at Burning Man enjoy taking illegal drugs.
(photo: DailyMail.com)

One redacted section of the 16-page document referred to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Burning Man, currently in its 29th year, begins on the last Monday of August and ends on the first Monday of September, for a week of festivities centered around art and alternative living.

Since money is effectively outlawed at the site, guests are urged to barter for commodities and many fans have already taken to social media offering to swap items such as crystals for festival tickets.

The entire campsite is temporary, and participants are required to bring everything with them, from food to tents and even furniture.

Every year, several massive 'temples' are built according to a theme, and on the last day, they are burned down in a ritualistic ceremony.

Adorable, her Playa name, rides a swing during the Burning Man 2015 'Carnival of Mirrors' arts and
music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. (photo: Reuters)