FBI uses Made in China at RSA Conference 2012

While covering the RSA Conference in San Francisco I needed a pen, so I grabbed one from the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) booth. Even as a clicked the pen to jot some notes I couldn’t help wondering (not too seriously) if the pen was bugged or loaded with a tracking device. So, you can imagine my surprise when I glanced at the click mechanism and saw “CHINA” emblazoned on the barrel.

Again, I don’t think the pen was bugged and I understand how best-price sourcing works. So I’m not that surprised that the FBI chotchkie was made in China. But seriously, it did give me pause that someone at the FBI didn’t think it was too ironic to put “China” right next to the FBI name on a giveaway.