I saw an interview on 60 Minutes about airport security and while the question was asked if the scrutiny was needed or just a "fear tactic" there is a group that take it unbelievably serious. While they have a valid point, from the stand point that they are stopping terrorism from happening they are not.
As was pointed out the prevention of terrorism ABSOLUTELY MUST be accomplished before the passenger gets to the airport. Otherwise the last minute search at the is a waste of time and resources. Not to mention money, and the amount of deadly 'stress' to the population. Think about it.

Posted By Jaime Yarbrough on December 22, 2008, 4:09 PM

It's all well and good to say "we have to stop terrorists BEFORE they get to the airport," but think about this: to do that might require more government intrusion and oversight over our day-to-day activities. Is that what you want? People who whine about pat-downs and random bag searches at airports will go absolutely nutso at the thought of cameras on telephone poles and other efforts to monitor people's behavior in other places (malls, schools, movie theaters...homes?) Don't exchange today's minor headaches for tomorrow's civil-liberties nightmare.

Posted By Kathleen K. Franklin on December 23, 2008, 9:09 AM

The public doesn't know half of what CBP tracks on the honest traveler. I wish this had something to do with protecting us against terrorism, but that is far from the truth. Have a stress test done in Canada or buy some fluorescent rocks and bring them across. Or try returning home without bringing your birth certificate or passport. CBP will do an extending secondary examination as punishment. Counterfeit birth certificates are a dime a dozen and US citizens did not commit the 9/11 attacks, so why should we need a $100. passport?

Posted By John Wilda on December 24, 2008, 8:41 AM

The first document you posted is a PNR(Passenger Name Record)and PNR history from CO. A PNR will include the IP address if made via the internet as well as other pertinent information from the booking party and about the passenger. This information is all time stamped and will include a SITA address if booked through a CRS.

Posted By DT on December 29, 2008, 12:31 AM

Nice research, Sean. I read a few things about the Homeland Security procedures, but haven't seen it tied together until now. I'm especially interested in the IP address being recorded for ticket purchases. I'm guessing this is to connect potential future attackers with their funding sources.

Posted By Enduring Wanderlust on December 29, 2008, 1:03 AM

I think this type of invasion of privacy is ridiculous and illegal. I am a frequent flyer with an unfortunately common name. Thus, I am not able to check-in with airport kiosks or online. So, just because of my name, I am relegated to poor seating and further invasion to my personal records. Something really needs to be done about the limitless authority granted to the TSA and the laws associated with air travel. I am quite willing to abide some increased risk with air travel and still have some personal privacy.

Posted By Robert Johnson on December 29, 2008, 12:25 PM

Excuse me if I sound like the conspiracy nut in the room, but...
Nazi Germany used watch-lists like this to control the population. It was a scare tactic -- Germans later found out that only 10% of citizens actually had watch-files. But its purpose was successful in frightening a population into submission.
I believe that the US Travel watch system is being put in place by innocent motivations right now, but this powerful database will be exploited for evil very soon.
Again, excuse my abruptness... but it has to be said, and I encourage you to do some follow-up research on your own!

Posted By Steve on December 29, 2008, 12:54 PM

Here is the conundrum of a free society; without security it cannot exist. In the complexity of modern times, we have to trust some organization (government) to provide security. But I am not convinced that the intrusive and often humiliating procedures sold as "security" are for my protection. The current government has squandered any trust they might have deserved. I love to fly and avoid it as much as possible.

Posted By Dan Lynch on December 29, 2008, 12:55 PM

It appears to me that Homeland Security does have advance travel plans since the reservation and purchase of the tickets is recorded and that is almost impossible at the last minute. At least the department can scrutinize last minute purchases and hold up the buyer at that point. Every advance purchase and reservation can be matched with a watch file for possible problems.

Posted By Ronald Siegel on December 29, 2008, 12:56 PM

I have done a lot of international traveling and I have never had a problem. I actually think it is interesting what the Government can do. It just goes to show you that they are not stupid or ignorant. They are trying to protect us and if it takes them tracking my international travel more power to them. It won't stop me from traveling and if I ever forget where I've been I know where to look for it.

Posted By Autumn Gomez on December 29, 2008, 1:01 PM

I agree, airport checks are a complete waste of time. Terrorists are not going to use airplanes again nor put bombs in their shoes. Also, what the TSA people need and what is lacking is a complete lack of "common sense". If you have a 4oz. tube of toothpaste and half of it is gone, don't throw away the balance. The same goes for shave cream, deodorant, etc. Your allowed two carry-on items--you have two plus a camera around your neck--can't pass till you put the camera in one of the bags or your pocket--tell me that makes any sense--just plain stupid.

Posted By Tim on December 29, 2008, 1:38 PM

I'm a frequent traveler, and I am happy that this information is being gathered. I do nothing illegal and therefore have absolutely nothing to hide. If this prevents an act of terrorism, then so be it.

The person who posted that he has a popular name (not an issue for me, but I know for others) points to one of the many reasons that we should all be required to have national identity cards, like they have in Europe (which would also be a useful piece of government-issued identification that is not a driver's license and which could be used for domestic travel and which could also be used to prevent identity theft).

Posted By Annabella Gualdoni on December 29, 2008, 1:54 PM

This is garbage and a waste of money, an expensive waste. Since when does the government think that anyone, anyone, would use their real name, DOB, address etc. if they were a terrorist or wanting to do harm. Are they really that dumb or doing busy work which mean nothing but spying on honest people.

Posted By DT on December 29, 2008, 2:11 PM

I have no problem with the government and airlines taking these and other details in attempting to track potential terrorists. There is no absolute right to travel on a highway or travel in an airplane. The government has a right to regulate and attempt to provide for safety in all. I have no secrets from the government. In rare instances people who work in organizations will sometimes illegally use such information. That is part of the risk of this wonderful modern world we live in. Roy Hanson.

Posted By Roy Hanson on December 29, 2008, 2:34 PM

I travel internationally for pleasure once a year. I don't care if the government knows where I'm going or for how long? I doubt that anyone over at Homeland Security is going to be working overtime to try to determine what I do, where I sleep, what I eat and what I do with my free time. I know we live in an age where privacy rights are becoming increasingly scarce, and I suppose I should be irritated at the idea that the government is keeping track of me when I travel. I suppose since I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to fear. A naive response, perhaps, but I'm not going to lose any sleep knowing that the government has a few sheets of paper on my international travel.

Posted By Tim Weldon on December 29, 2008, 2:40 PM

I'll keep it short and sweet and simply state that this whole procedure is a bunch of hogwash. What we need is a good ole revolution. Land of the free and home of the brave---yeah, right!

Posted By Bart Mortensen on December 29, 2008, 4:10 PM

wow..how can i see mine? my last several trips out of the country...and one in the country...i have had to go thru the secondary screening,, including having my bags dumped out on a table...and being asked what these items are used for..1 was a cell charger...the other a license plate for a car i was picking up in florida...they didn't quibble about carrying the plate...asked about nose hair trimmers 3 times...great priorities to a 59yr old with a cane..

Posted By Ralph Foore on December 29, 2008, 4:35 PM

Sean, just in case you didn't notice this, I was able to visualize the Govt-redacted info. Glancing at my laptop screen from above revealed the codes (i.e., (b)(2)) that had been blacked out. Of course, that's not helpful unless one knows what the codes/categories mean.

Posted By Missy on December 29, 2008, 4:41 PM

Look at my records, it doesn't bother me. When ever we travel my husband is singled out every time for an extra look over. We don't know why. This has been going on since 1986. We decided he must fit some profile. So when we go through airport security I just look for a chair because I know this will take a while. We prefer this than when we drive cross the Border from Canada to the US each year. Open Border crossings, no security.
still going on in 2008.

Posted By Shirley Damboise on December 29, 2008, 4:49 PM

I knew America was going to be in deep trouble the day King George II first announced the creation of the Department of Fatherland Security.

Heaven help us.

Posted By Bill F., Sr. on December 29, 2008, 4:52 PM

I find it amazing that so many people here are so unconcerned about your government tracking this information.

One person said you do not have a right to travel. Who are you people?

Do you know the difference between a right and a privilege? A right is something you do not have to ask permission for. A permission is obvious.

You have every right to travel. You do not have to ask permission to travel. I also have every right to go anywhere I please unencumbered by government intervention.

As far as the nonsense, "I'm not doing anything wrong, so I have nothing to hide." Who are you people?

The point is that they are gathering info on you, period. If you allow this, what next? Keep it up...you're on your way to a government with a false facade as a republic state (did you even know we aren't a democracy) but in reality is a totalitarian state.

Posted By DM on December 29, 2008, 5:15 PM

I personally don't care if the government wants to track my travel. The era of BIG BROTHER is here and it's not going away. People need to get used to it.

Posted By J. Lawson on December 29, 2008, 5:28 PM

A couple of things. Yes I think this is disturbing, but I think it is even more disturbing the folks who say that they are not doing anything wrong so they are not worried about it.

You should worry about these things because any information that the govt has at their fingertips can be used against you.

The author of this article is a journalist. I come from a family of journalists. Journalists are persecuted and threatened on a regular basis. Don't think for a second govt actors would not use this data to silence Mr. O'Neill. They would and I am sure that they do.

Further: You can bet your ass if the CIA or FBI needed to set someone up to take the fall for a crime that these lists could make it much easier and quicker for them to do so. If these things can happen in the movies I am sure they can happen in real life.

Everyone needs to understand that people get put in Guantanamo Bay and are tortured because they talked to a terrorist. There need not be any evidence of intent or actual terrorism.

We have already abdicated our rights. Unless the new people in power change the way these things are done in the future. You should be afraid, very afraid.

Posted By MsAnnaNOLA on December 29, 2008, 6:15 PM

Considering the details of the individuals travel and the recorded history, it's truly a wonder that the TSA and other agencies have not been able to figure out that ROBERT JOHNSON (a name flagged by TSA for screening) is not a terrorist code name for 99.9999% of the passengers that have the name ROBERT JOHNSON. Still, if your name is ROBERT JOHNSON, you'll likely be yanked aside, stuck in the back of the plane, or not even allowed to get on the plane--even if you were the pilot. And yet Bin Laden, a more likely name, has never been flagged as one for concern.

Posted By Bonzoboy on December 29, 2008, 6:25 PM

It's one thing to scrutinize my itineraries; it's another to make decisions about my future ability to travel freely based on what you see.
So, did I go to Sudan, Yemen, Eritrea, Somalia and Kryrgystan (for instance) because I'm a terrorist-in-training or because I'm a humanitarian?

Posted By P. Roberts on December 29, 2008, 6:36 PM

I travel out of the country several times a year for vacations. All my spare money goes to traveling. I have been searched several times in Turkey & Russia & held up by tsa several times. I am never thrilled but always am polite. Never have a real problem---and hope that maybe a problem will be avoided. El Al never has had a problem. Since they are a major target I could only guess why---SECURITY. It's fine with me (this last year I flew at least 7 times) Since I do nothing illegal (not even when reporting what I bought) But most of all I am always Happy to return home and thank my father for coming to the USA. Search Away and Track my Travel.

Posted By Rosalie Greer on December 29, 2008, 6:41 PM

Two very disturbing statements were made in these comments.

First, the notion that you have nothing to worry about because you don't break the law is ridiculous. So, you're a law-abiding citizen. How many of your rights are you willing to give up for a false sense of security? Purchasing history? Maybe. A database of your library records? Sure. Why not? Phone records? I guess so. Medical records? Hmm. Phone taps? Cameras on your street corners? Cameras in your home?

I often wonder how people define the freedoms that our brave soldiers die for. We like to talk about these kids going off and dying so that we can be free. We do them a great disservice when we let them go and die in a faraway country, and then we give up our freedoms anyway... happily... and call it patriotism... and think we are safe. It's an illusion.

National Identity Cards. Good lord. I just don't have the time to address that one.

Posted By theoria on December 29, 2008, 7:29 PM

Very interesting, as this has happened to me exactly as you have described it, and it has been a horrible inconvenience when travelling.

I'm interested to know how to file a FOIA to see what the government has in its records.

Posted By mark camp on December 29, 2008, 7:29 PM

Collecting information about those who travel is all well and good, as long as there is an end result, which can be proven; to date, I have neither heard nor seen any mention of such. Of course, we don't want to see the wrong results with any lax in security, but sometimes, it goes too far.
During my current trip abroad, I found it quite disturbing that foreign airports had security measures in place "primarily to meet US carrier requirements." That was a paraphrase of something posted in Heathrow - its not a requirement of any airline, but the US Government overextending its authority.

Posted By Jason L on December 29, 2008, 7:51 PM

In every organization there exist individuals who will misuse and manipulate the process. This exists amongst law enforcement and security, just as much as amongst Wall Street brokers, doctors, or other professionals from any walk of life.

When such extensive amounts of data exist on individuals compiled over years, decades, or even the length of their life, you must expect that this data will be misused by someone, somewhere.

There do not appear to be adequate safeguards protecting information that is being collected from prying eyes - even if these are "official" prying eyes. Any and all access of private data needs to be monitored and tracked as well - the IP address of any ACCESS should be tracked, so that any misuse of private information can be found and accounted for.

There should be laws not only on how information is COLLECTED, but how this information can be USED by law enforcement. The current assumption is that law enforcement is benign....I used to think the same of my stock broker.

Posted By Hunter on December 29, 2008, 7:58 PM

This was a very timely article as I experienced much aggravation in 2005 upon returning from Rome, Italy. I'll try to be as brief as possible.
My coworker and I went through London for a day of shopping en route to Rome. My second day in Rome I suffered a massive stroke. I was in the hospital there for about a week; my friend had returned to the States and then returned to Rome to bring me home.

At Newark airport, the Homeland Security pulled us out of the line and sent us to another room for further screening (secondary screening?). After about a half hour there we were told that we could leave. As I was being pushed in the wheelchair a Homeland Security agent that I had observed watching us as we were going through the initial line approached us, and asked for our passports.

As instructed we followed him to an isolated conveyor belt at the side of the Arrivals Hall. This jerk then proceeded to ask me "why I was in the wheelchair, did the stroke hurt, do I believe in God, where was I going when I left the terminal?";and all manner of nonsensical questions. Mind you from the time I deplaned, I was in a wheelchair and visibly ill. He also asked my friend questions like; "Do you believe in God, do you attend church, why were you in Rome, aren't there the same things in this country to see?"

We both told him that we were government employees with an excess of 30 years tenure each, and my friend told this idiot that he was an ex-serviceman who had served his country proudly. All to no avail. He then proceeded to pull our bags apart and seemed particularly interested in my address book, examining every slip of paper in it.

When I finally returned to my home after a hospital and rehab stay, I contacted a manager of the local Homeland Security office. After I explained my situation to her, and she checked (whatever it is they check), and when I asked her if this occurence would happen every time I travel and re-enter the US, she said, "Probably so."

The security of our nation is of the utmost importance, but should innocent citizens be subject to the whims and arbitrary behaviors of ill-trained and unprofessional Homeland Security agents? I think not. I was offended, and remain so, that I an African-American male must have second, or third, thoughts about travelling internationally for fear of detainment (or worse) at our borders. By the way, for what it's worth, when we were taken to the second room, there were about 20 other people waiting - seemingly all African-based individuals.

What is happening to America?

Posted By C. H. Tilley on December 29, 2008, 8:03 PM

Records on me by the fed? Can they be used against me? Sure. But if there were no records, they could just make them up, or take another person's records and put my name on it.

Forget what has happened in the past since 9/11, wait for the persecution of Americans under the new regime. You think "rights" have been violated by phone taps? Wait till the 2nd Amendment is trampled and people have to give up weapons. This has already happened, i.e., Katrina, New Orleans. And, as this country is taken over more and more by socialism, who knows what "rights" we will have left: telling us what type of car to drive, and when we can have the urgent operation - go home and wait by phone, if you die, too bad.

Posted By Dave on December 29, 2008, 8:04 PM

Yo;
Why don't these folks just forward this report to Lufthansa so they could book my frequent flyer miles. The Government knows where I have been, but the airline I fly on hasn't a clue. What does that tell you.

Posted By FDR on December 29, 2008, 9:36 PM

"People ...will go absolutely nutso at the thought of cameras on telephone poles and other efforts to monitor people's behavior in other places (malls, schools, movie theaters...homes?) Don't exchange today's minor headaches for tomorrow's civil-liberties nightmare. Posted By Kathleen K. Franklin on December 23, 2008, 9:09 AM"

Ummm - tomorrow's nightmare?? There are already cameras on telephone poles/street crossing signs as well as 'traffic cams' in addition to the ubiquitous 'security cameras' already everywhere in malls, banks, restaurants, supermarkets, and of course rail stations and airports ... although we don't yet have chips implanted to keep track of our GPS coordinates, a cell phone on all the time will bridge that gap ...

Posted By Brynn on December 29, 2008, 9:43 PM

To all of you that really think that since you are not breaking the law, it's ok for the government to snoop, let me give you a hypothetical situation: The government is tracking all of us, and we are unhappy with our current leaders, so we send in some comment, maybe in a letter to the editor, or we read something on an internet site. Let's say we have dishonest leaders in power, who use that against us, or as a way of discrediting us to gain more power for themselves. Are we being dishonest? No, but the snooping can still be used against us, and we need to realize that.

Posted By LaurieH on December 29, 2008, 9:49 PM

The bits that the government is redacting (blacking out) is actually generally the identifying information of the agents who processed the request and who processed you at the border. It is certainly not related to the "inner workings of law enforcement" by any reasonable stretch. It is just a privacy thing for their employees.

I have my dossier as well, and the IP tracking information that they have is rather disturbing, in my opinion. They have WAY more information than they actually need. Do they need to know that I'm OCD about checking my seat assignment once a day? Because that level of detail is included in the report.

I object in general to the level of data mining that the government is performing under the guise of "security," but this is WAY over the top.

Posted By Wandering Aramean on December 29, 2008, 9:51 PM

Interestingly, after my husband and I got our concealed carry (gun) permits a couple years ago, we now breeze through security and usually can get an exit row seat just for the asking (no extra charge).

We've only been held up briefly once in that time, and that's when my husband used his former military/gun back for dive gear and we figure they picked up gun powder residue on the bag. After checking it out, it passed thru fine too.

Posted By Jan P on December 29, 2008, 9:52 PM

PLEASE STOP THE WHINING IT IS MAKING ME SICK. ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID OF HAVING ANY INTRUSIONS IN YOUR LIVES. IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE UNTIL THEY DEVELOP BETTER MACHINES AND TECHNIQUES SO GET USE TO IT AND GET A LIFE. I RATHER HAVE THIS INTRUSION AND FEEL A LITTLE SAFER THAN HAVE NONE AT ALL. ALSO DO YOU PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE. IS IT A REALLY BIG DEAL IF THEY KNOW WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN AND WHERE YOU BOUGHT YOUR TICKET. HARDLY

Posted By JF on December 29, 2008, 9:58 PM

It's just the theater of security, your government going through motions designed to comfort the lowest common denominated brain cells into feeling that they're safe. While actual safety is completely unrelated to the pantomime.

Posted By Mike Chertoff on December 29, 2008, 10:04 PM

I STILL FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY A NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD IS SUCH A BUGABOO TO PEOPLE. IF YOU ARE A WORKING ADULT IN THE USA THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALL IT NEEDS ABOUT YOU IN YOUR TAX RETURN. IT CAN ACCESS ANY BANK RECORDS, JOB INFO, MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, KIDS, EDUCATION, ETC IT WANTS. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. I ALSO THINK THESE CARDS WOULD BE FAKED JUST LIKE DRIVERS LICENSES SEEM TO BE. SO THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IS DUBIOUS. THE PART IN ALL THIS THAT SEEMS SILLY TO ME IS THINKING WE DON'T NEED AIRPORT SCREENING. GRANTED ITS A PAIN, BUT AT LEAST ITS A HURDLE ANY TERRORIST HAS TO CONSIDER BEFORE TRYING TO STRAP ON SOME TNT FOR HIS/HER "GOD". FRANKLY BEING JAMMED CHEEK TO JOWL FOR HOURS ON END IN THE TIN CAN WITH SCREAMING BABIES IS MORE OF A HASSLE THAN TSA. AND YES THEY'VE ANNOYED ME TOO ONCE IN A WHILE. BUT BEING POLITE AND NOT COPING AN IMMEDIATE ATTITUDE SEEMS TO WORK BEST. AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SOME ARE SINCERE JERKS. MOST ARE NOT. I FLY A LOT AND OVERSEAS WHEN I CAN. ANYWAY HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL

Posted By pat sherwood on December 29, 2008, 11:23 PM

Apparently, people interpret aggravation as security level. Most of it is silly. Like when entering the Dept of Agriculture bldg in DC I was asked to show a picture ID. The ID was not checked against any list nor was it recorded. Any valid purpose? Airport security wouldn't accept my driver's license because it had expired. Purpose?

If you feel safer when you are harassed, you're in luck. Perhaps strip searches would make you ecstatic!

Posted By storm on December 29, 2008, 11:33 PM

"Still, if your name is ROBERT JOHNSON, you'll likely be yanked aside, stuck in the back of the plane, or not even allowed to get on the plane"

The blues - it's dangerous stuff.

Posted By quonsar on December 29, 2008, 11:59 PM

The security checks are an absolutely necessity but I agree with a lot of the comments made. I am retired professional law enforcement, usually have my State badge in my purse, and yet I have been subjected to just about everything but a strip search. I have encountered some very nice personnel and some extremely rude ones, just as in every phase of life. I suppose the worst thing that ever happened was when I was accompanied on an overseas trip, Holland I believe, by my young son. He was facing amputation of his leg and was on crutches at the time. This was a special treat for him for I was very concerned about the forthcoming surgery and when and if he would be able to walk again. He parked the car after we unloaded our luggage at the airport and I checked it in and got in line, also had both our tickets checked. When he returned, I was up to an elderly man who was looking at everyone's ticket as they came through. My son walked up to me just in time and I handed his ticket to him. This old geezer at the airport told him he could not go in with me because he would be breaking in line, and not very nicely either. I informed him that I would return to the back of the line with my son. As he made his way by the people in line on his crutches, I could see the look of disgust on their faces for the way we were treated but I suppose they didn't dare speak up. He had the amputation, recuperated nicely, and has a prosthesis. He is employed as a professional in the medical profession now. He has a real sense of compassion for his patients and I feel that the way he was treated could possibly have played some small part in this as it made a lasting impression on him to be embarrassed in such a manner in front of all the passengers. Sorry this was so long but it was difficult to explain.

Posted By Genie20054 on December 30, 2008, 1:05 AM

What happen to civil rights? What about invasion of our privacy? Slowly we are becoming a police state. Yes next we will have to strip naked. But radicals from the Mideast walk about freely. Illegal aliens get free assistance from the government. Where is the logic?

Posted By don on December 30, 2008, 1:45 AM

I travel all over the world for work and pleasure. I welcome the additional security entering and leaving London and the US which is not consistent in many other airports. While it is not sufficient to stop terrorism it does slow it down. I have nothing to hide so I don't care that the govt knows where I have been. Use an internet cafe to buy the ticket if you don't want your IP address used. Google uses my IP address to collect all kinds of data already.

Posted By Melissa Newman on December 30, 2008, 2:19 AM

Are history and civics not being taught in schools anymore? All the people who are asking what is the big deal about identity cards, and who are accepting of government intrusion into our lives, know NOTHING of the founding of this country, the expansion of this country, the ideals (pre-Bush/Cheney) of this country. It makes me weep that there are Americans who are so ignorant of their own country's history that they readily will give up all the things that have made the USA the beacon of hope for oppressed people everywhere. When you don't know history, you are doomed to repeat it.

Posted By Vadalia Speaks on December 30, 2008, 3:54 AM

As the partner in charge of our law firm's Customs and International Trade Department for many years, and as a former attorney with U.S. Customs in Miami, I often hear stories of arriving international passengers being detained by U.S. Customs. Often, the passenger is advised there is something in their computer records which prompted their detention and questioning by Customs officers.

Everyone is entitled to his or her computer record upon written request to Customs. I encourage everyone to get a copy. The important thing to do is to correct the biographical information if the traveler finds it in error, just like you would a credit report.

My opinion is that the information collected by Customs is of little value in selecting passengers for secondary or intensive examination by Customs officers. It is another bureaucratic attempt to inconvenience the traveling public without practical law enforcement benefits.

The information has been collected for years by Customs, yet how many alleged terrorists have been caught by Customs? The answer is none.

Your readers may remember years ago (before TSA), when passengers were routinely questioned by the airline personnel at time of check in whether they packed their own bags and whether the bags had been in their possession the whole time. That well intentioned, but inane practice finally ended a few years ago after the Government realized it was a waste of time and effort. So it should be with the collection of personal data from international travelers because it does not collect information of actionable value for law enforcement purposes, despite what U.S. Customs tells the public.

Posted By Peter Quinter on December 30, 2008, 6:51 AM

It appears that BIG BROTHER is in our lives and there is nothing that can be done about it.The Government just justifies it by saying "National Security" and "Axis of Evil". George Orwell is probably looking down {or up} at us saying "I told you so".

Posted By rene romeu on December 30, 2008, 7:33 AM

Two comments on Homeland Security: 1) When returning from Canada recently, driving my personal vehicle, after stating that I lived in West Virginia I was asked if I was driving a rental. I replied that it was my personal vehicle. I was then asked why it had Maine license tags on it -- and it doesn't! The tags plainly say West Virginia, show that I am an Emergency Medical provider, and have Emergency Medical on the bottom. The agent was misidentifying what he was seeing on his monitor. GIGO -- Garbage In, Gospel Out.
2) People in the Transportation Industry have to get a Transportation Workers Identification Credential, or TWIC card. It has your photo, digitally embedded fingerprints, a slew of security features to prevent counterfeiting, and is issued by TSA. So guess who doesn't accept it if you present it as identification at the airport? TSA! They require a photo ID that is issued by a government agency! And they are the ones who issued this photo ID.

Posted By JW on December 30, 2008, 9:23 AM

When I was in Poland for a year in '76-77, the Russian Stalinists were in control, I had my luggage "dumped" on a table and watched their "Homeland Security" guards claw through everything, leaving me to repack it all as they left laughing. That's only one little instance of how the Russians turned Poland into a police state. Another example, much more serious, was to see uniformed men armed with submachine weapons on the streets, in the airports, and at the parks. We have the "dumping" now--which many responders seem to gladly accept--how much longer as we go down the slippery slope will we have before the armed military patrol our streets to "protect" our citizens? I, for one, am frightened that it could happen here as I experienced it in occupied Poland.

Posted By george sebouhian on December 30, 2008, 10:21 AM

I voted for RON PAUL for the GOP nomination in the primaries. Then I voted LIBERTARIAN for every office I could. Libertarians (of whatever party) want to end this kind of police-state nonsense, and end the US's failed foreign policy of policing the world that provided the rationale for such measures in the first place.

Posted By James W. Harris on December 30, 2008, 10:36 AM

Not sure what value this information is, but at least they are becoming more adept at using information. When the program first started, I was an officer in the Army with numerous overseas trips. As a result, virtually each time I went through security, the cheese-heads would pull me to the side and do a thorough screening. I had a security clearance at the time, so it seemed that no cross check was completed before adding me to the watch list. I also traveled with and still travel with, only a daypack for luggage. This also may have added me to their watch list. Frankly, I doubt the value of this program other than to keep more people employed, but what do I know? Another erosion of civil liberties in the name of security???

Posted By Russell Ty on December 30, 2008, 10:48 AM

Since 2001 I have been detained at airport check-in on domestic and international flights to do a secondary screening of my identity. I am unable to do an online, kiosk or curbside check-in and must arrive at least an extra half hour earlier than recommended at the airport in order to make my flights. I resent the Dept of Homeland Security not bothering to respond to my letter requesting help in taking me off whatever lists I am on in order to expedite my travels other than a form letter saying that my account would be reviewed. Nothing has changed for me since that letter 2 years ago. I have been pulled aside and searched in Moscow, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dulles, and many other airports and in London's Heathrow was strip-searched. It is not fun, is a big-time hassle and waste of time. When I do make an international flight I know that I will be hassled at every stop on the way to the airplane. In Accra, Ghana, I was stopped and questioned and/or searched 11 times from the terminal building entrance until I was on the airplane. I also have ended up in the rear of the airplane due to these delays forced upon me because many airlines outside of the US will not allow seat selection until at the airport. It is a 7 hr drive from my hometown to Las Vegas and I go there for business. I will now spend the time driving rather than flying because of the hassle. Do we need to worry about the power of Big Brother?...You bet! What a pain!

Posted By Rich R on December 30, 2008, 11:01 AM

I was reminded in the comment about questions we were formerly asked at check-in about who packed our bags, etc., about how silly I found those questions to be. Who were these people who went around offering to pack the bags for people preparing for a trip? I always wanted to ask the ticket agent, but I never did because I realize that they were only doing as they had been instructed to do. If anyone had a serious intent to carry through with a criminal act, I doubt they would have answered honestly.

I do wonder if the current method of checking passengers is more effective. I like to travel and usually take one or more international trips every year. I am a 65-year-old, overweight, gray-haired grandmother somewhat disabled by arthritic knees, yet I am frequently pulled aside for more pat-downs, more questions, more baggage searches? I am always polite to the TSA folks, but I think what a waste of time and resources all of that is. Do women of my physical description often commit acts of terrorism? I know they pull a certain number of people of white European ancestry aside in order not to be accused of profiling, but this extra attention is sometimes embarrassing as when I was traveling with my pastor and folks from my church on a trip to retrace one of the missionary journeys of St. Paul. I was searched and searched again on every leg of that trip.

Posted By Marilyn Long on December 30, 2008, 11:13 AM

Bruce Schneier, not Bruce Schneider

Posted By Reader in CA on December 30, 2008, 1:28 PM

These are very interesting posts and there are obviously some passionate views on both sides. Interestingly though, nobody mentions the wireless chips -- often referred to as RFID chips -- in the new "ePassports" and "Enhanced Driver's Licenses". (These are also found in the new "contactless credit cards", but these are not directly Government related.)

With all the information being collected it should not surprise anyone that the Government is also using the technology in these credentials to track us. I, for one, would rather limit 'data collection' of my self. It's done everywhere today, but if there's a way to limit it then I feel better. With this in mind, we started a company several years ago to sell RFID shielding wallets for the express purpose of stopping 'tracking' and wireless identity-theft. We make men's and women's wallets and passport holders. And while they might not be for everyone, most everyone carries a wallet so why not make it a safer wallet?

Posted By Geb Masterson on December 30, 2008, 1:36 PM

Most interesting! My jaw dropped about the woes of any ROBERT JOHNSON who travels. Wow ...

Posted By Roberta Beach Jacobson on December 30, 2008, 1:41 PM

A terrible thing about dictatorships is that oppressive governments spy on its citizens. I'm happy to be living in a land in which freedom rings and I'm free to go about my business without worrying that the government is looking over my shoulder, reading my mail (email), and tracking my goings and my comings.

Posted By Arnie on December 30, 2008, 1:49 PM

Homeland Security - isn't is amazing that our country survived for over 225 years without it? All these trappings of "security" are the result of 2 things: 1. a way of defending the millions of dollars this bogus department spends 2. creating a "placebo effect" on the public by creating a false sense that we are being shielded from terrorism.
The bottom line - if a terrorist wants a bomb or a weapon on a plane it will be there in spite of these "screenings."
What a waste of time, money and resources!

Posted By antonia on December 30, 2008, 1:58 PM

If you don't want these hassles, don't travel. I had my passport stolen this year in Barcelona. I will welcome questions regarding my life if it will protect illegal use of my history.

Posted By Jim Harris on December 30, 2008, 2:03 PM

I am not sure I have an opinion on the level of intrusiveness at this point. However, I have serious problems with the Government redacting any information sent to me under a FOIA request. I am an American citizen not breaking any laws. I have a right to all the information they have on me--period! Just as I should have the right with credit rating agencies, etc. It is MY information. Give it to me if I ask.

Posted By L.M. on December 30, 2008, 4:22 PM

"Those who are willing to trade freedom for security deserve neither freedom nor security."
-BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Posted By Anonymous on December 30, 2008, 4:36 PM

Hello people.
Just wait........
this is nothing.
study history every country on the world has gone down this road, more control over their subjects. More taxes for their subjects.
study every religion past and present they all lead us to the same conclusion, even the new age religions tell us that if we do not change our ways we will end up in a very bad place.
knowledge , arm yourself
thanks
Jeff Holmes

Posted By Jeff Holmes on December 30, 2008, 5:10 PM

Not surprised at your article, which I just read.
Would like to see mine. Will try to get it.
I have always said, "Can't run, can't hide."
When I type my name into Google pages come up with stuff that I can't imagine how it got onto the site.
This new electronic age is good and bad. Too bad we can't get the bad out and keep the good.

Posted By Leni Friedland on December 30, 2008, 5:21 PM

I am interested in Egyptology so I go to Egypt at least once, sometimes twice a
year. I have never had any problems with security. When I get asked why do I go to Egypt a lot , I just tell them my love for Egyptology. I love ancient history
and if I can afford to go there, why not? Just because I didn't have the money to go to college doesn't mean that I have to give up my interest too.

Posted By BARBARA on December 30, 2008, 5:37 PM

Years ago a Russian told an American: "The only difference between our propaganda and your propaganda is that you believe your propaganda."

"1984 happened around 1934, but we were too busy to notice." Marshall McLuhan

Posted By Sam on December 30, 2008, 8:48 PM

It sure is great to live in a free country that keeps information on its citizens like the communist do. I guess I don't see the difference. I don't want to be protected by the government I don't remember seeing anywhere in the constitution that the federal government had such an authority. If they are specifically given the authority by the constitution then they don't have it. Oh I forgot the constitution is no longer in effect in our Free country.

Posted By Steve Sanderson on December 30, 2008, 10:43 PM

Some of you people are REALLY paranoid! Get a life! You warn about "cameras on your street corners" -- hey, guess what? That's the case all over Europe! (I know, I live there) Also in Europe, you MUST have a national identity card and you are REQUIRED to have it (or your passport) on your person at all times. If you don't, and you're stopped by the police for anything (and they don't need a reason, either, I've witnessed this in Germany and had a friend in this situation), off you go to the police station, or if they're feeling nice, they accompany you home so you can produce your govt-issued ID. So much for all you "enlightened ones" who yearn for the "freedoms" of "enlightened Europe". Grow up! WHY does anyone think they have the "right" to travel wherever they want, "unimpeded by government"??? Everywhere else in the world, you have to produce a passport to cross international borders. Why should the US/Canadian or US/Mexican borders be any different? And frankly, don't people realize that every time they travel internationally, it's recorded by US immigration? So what if the govt also wants to see when and how you bought your ticket? If it helps them prevent even a single terrorist attack, it's worth this small "invasion of privacy" as some would call it. Buy a clue -- your privacy is being compromised much more by the corporations & credit card companies who keep MUCH more extensive files on you and your buying habits & patterns than any government!

Posted By Tammy on December 31, 2008, 12:16 PM

If we were really serious about stopping terrorism, we would emulate the Israelis security procedures at airports, borders and port. Our current system does not seem to inspire confidence, rather it causes irritation at removing shoes, explaining small bottles or paying to check each bag.

Posted By M. M. M. on January 1, 2009, 2:47 AM

I don't really believe our government cares about protecting us from terrorists at all. What they want is control. I gave up believing that I lived in a democratic republic a long time ago.

What scares me even more than our government is the number of people who seem to think that the government's continuing stranglehold on our every move is just hunky dory. Who are you people? You must be the ones who voted for Bush twice and think Cheney is an okay guy.

What makes the whole airport crapola so maddening is their lack of professionalism and priorities. The last time my daughter flew here to visit me, she didn't realize that her toiletries (which she had in 3 oz. containers and in the proper 1 qt. zip lock bag) were supposed to be put in the plastic bin. The TSA guy had such a prolonged hissy fit over her bag of toiletries being left in her purse, he completely missed the utility knife in said purse that contained 19 extra blades in the handle.

On one of my plane trips my lighter was confiscated, but the twenty or so books of matches I had in my purse were considered okay.

We're not being protected in any realistic way, so I'll take my freedom, thank you very much. You naive people who think anything the government does is just fine will feel differently if you are "disappeared" for some trumped up offense.

Posted By Carole Dunn on January 1, 2009, 10:53 AM

I am enjoying reading these comments. Does anyone realize that Homeland Security can do whatever it pleases to you and you (an obvious suspected terrorist) can do nothing to stop this abuse. You can write and that may put you on another list.
I presented identification from a US Government Intelligence Agency with my fingerprints, photos and an electronic swipe device that allows me access into Federal buildings with no questions.
Pretty formidable ID would you not agree. However, it is not good enough for TSA. The ID allows me to carry a weapon on an aircraft after advising the captain that I have it. However, it is not good enough for TSA. They wanted a drivers license and a passport or other government issued ID. What government issued my ID? Afghanistan? This is getting to be a bit of an issue. They should require IQ tests for TSA people before hiring them. That might weed out 80% if those hard working people leaving the really good ones to do the job.

Posted By BEL on January 1, 2009, 11:28 PM

Thanks for the info. I understand why I've been questioned a few times. I always make a point of carrying at least a hard copy document so I can present as evidence that I am in work related stuff. (and I make sure I save a few business cards in my pocket/bag). I can't imagine how many pages have been stored about my transits in the past 15 yrs... let's put it this way - it's A LOT more than 20 entries...

I wonder if they will cross link the passport book number along with the new passport cards used for land borders. I have both, and the serial numbers and expiration dates are different.

I agree with the post above about Israel airport security. They are the masters at that- and God forbid you have a last same sounding even close to arab/palestinian or that you visited any ot those areas, and worse if you spent even a single night there- secondary check is GUARANTEED! You are at their mercy- so best to keep your cool.

And always remember, for international travelers, the problem is NOT leaving the USA, the problem is GETTING BACK IN after your return- that's the one you need to worry about.

I wonder if I request a copy of my record, if that would reflect negatively on my profile, b/c if it does, I'd rather leave it alone b/c at the end it won't make a difference. It is not like a credit report that you can easily amend for errors

Posted By Nelson on January 2, 2009, 8:43 AM

I am a criminal lawyer. In 2003-04 I had a client who's federal/intersate rap sheet read, "This person is on the no fly list and must be detained at any airport. It is a federal crime to share this classified information with this person."

So, I can know it, everyone in the courthouse can know it, no one can know why, and no one can say to this guy "Hey, you may want to check into your Customs & Border Records?"

Interesting. I'm not sure what the point is though.

Posted By mw on January 2, 2009, 5:38 PM

Some of the posters here need to take some classes in Constitutional.

1. "There is no right to travel." Wrong. While there is no explicitly stated right in the Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court has established a presumed right of travel. In U.S. v Guest, 383 U.S. 745 (1966), the Court noted, "It is a right that has been firmly established and repeatedly recognized." In fact, in Shapiro v Thompson, 394 U.S. 618 (1969), Justice Stewart noted in a concurring opinion that "it is a right broadly assertable against private interference as well as governmental action. Like the right of association, ... it is a virtually unconditional personal right, guaranteed by the Constitution to us all."

2. National identity cards. I can't believe this is even being proposed by anyone who has even a high school education in history. National ID cards are used to track a nation's citizens. The Real ID violates the 10th Amendment of the Constitution by interfering with a right historically reserved to the States. It also interferes with the rights of assembly, travel, etc. The hallmark of communist societies was presenting a national ID upon request. This is not the America that the Founding Fathers envisioned.

People need to remember that first, IDs can be forged, second, 4 of the 9/11 hijackers had valid drivers' licenses, 6 had forged social security cards, and third, terrorists can be U.S. citizens, too. ID doesn't stop committed terrorists from acting. Fear is no reason to give up our basic civil rights. If people are afraid to fly, then those people need to stay home. Those people should not be trying to give up other people's civil rights.

Posted By JJL on January 3, 2009, 2:07 AM

Things don't always go so smoothly with requests for records, and the records you received may not have been complete.

The DHS has recently admitted that responses to these requests typically take a year or more (many time the legal time limit), and that people who asked for "all" their records often received only portions of them (not including their airline reservations or PNR's), among other problems:

DHS admits problems in disclosing travel surveillance records (The Identity Project)

If you flew on a European airline or bought your tickets in Europe or from a European company, you are entitled to find out more about your records, including an accounting of what information was given to which governments and third parties, from the airline or other travel company:

Can you really see what records are kept about your travel? (The Practical Nomad)

Links to forms to request your travel records from European airlines and travel companies

But they have had as much trouble as the DHS in actually complying with the law that requires them to show you their records about you:

KLM claims it doesn't know what happens with passengers' data

Posted By Edward Hasbrouck on January 4, 2009, 12:40 AM

I am just wondering if anyone out here knows what can be done if there is erroneous information on one's travel profile that leads to continually being pulled into a secondary "interrogation"? Once the citizen obtains a copy of the record and finds an issue (whether it be a Robert Johnson-esque mistake or something else)to whom would one appeal to get the record corrected?

Posted By Lynne on January 4, 2009, 2:27 PM

My father recently had a hip replacement. The doctor warned him this would trigger the alarm in airport security, so, on his first air trip after the surgery, my father brought along the records of his surgery, a note from his doctor, and his prescription information. Security personnel glanced at the info and went ahead and pulled him aside for a secondary search in a private room, so they could strip search him. He asked them what documentation he needed to avoid this time-wasting and humiliating search in the future. The security people told him there was no special ID or paperwork he could acquire to avoid a secondary search. They told him to expect to be wanded/searched at every airport security check he goes through in the future.

Maybe the government just doesn't want us to travel. Or at least not those dangerous people with suspicious hip replacements.

On another note, they claim there is "no profiling" in secondary searches. Yet when I returned from a trip to Korea with a group of fellow martial artists all wearing identical blue baseball caps with our team's logo on them, every single white person on the team, male and female, walked straight through security no problem. Who got stopped for secondary checks? Our African-American teammate and Filipino ancestry teammate. What a coincidence, right?

Airport security has never stopped a single terrorist. It just strips away yet another of our freedoms - the freedom from harassment.

Posted By S. Sieber on January 6, 2009, 11:25 AM

I just stumbled on here, browsing around (from The Consumerist). I clicked on the image thumbnail before reading anything and up pops a file with MY NAME ON IT! Heart attack... (as a Sean I'm sure you've learned to accept occasional mis-spellings)

Posted By Shawn O'Neill on January 6, 2009, 11:40 AM

The fascist government takeover you all fear in the future was so subtle, you missed its' partial implementation over the past eight years. We already have police cameras, RFID chips, security cameras, profiling,etc., etc. AND, it will get even worse. Some day your car will have a black box recording data the government can use to track your speed, place of origin, route and destination for every trip you make. Think that's far fetched? Wait until the new building codes require closed circuit cameras in all new homes, connected to a government monitoring center, "for your protection". It will come.
To you folks who do not object to constant, intrusive government tracking because you have "done nothing wrong", I hope you enjoy your stay in the gulag.
Wake up! The United States is being destroyed by an internal enemy. You must become outraged!
Read the constitution. Stop being the most politically ignorant people on the face of the earth.
Defend your freedoms. Stop being the biggest flock of sheep on the face of the planet.

Posted By David on January 6, 2009, 12:48 PM

for those of us who ARE NOT criminals or terrorists the govt. has no right to track where i go on a day to day basis. or where i travel for that matter. maybe they should focus on corrupt business men and corrupt politicians before normal, non criminal working stiffs.

Posted By bruce on January 6, 2009, 3:22 PM

Did you really need to post what the definition of an IP address is?

Posted By Errrrr on January 6, 2009, 3:48 PM

Um...you really should have redacted those IPs as well.

Posted By itguy on January 6, 2009, 4:08 PM

Sean-

So the next question is... does requesting the FOIA on yourself put you on some other watch list?

Posted By Jere on January 6, 2009, 4:13 PM

The whole point of these laws is so that they WILL get abused. Remember that guy Cheney and the "unitary executive" idea? He's never dropped it, he just stopped talking about it so much.

And does anyone in their right mind think that the point of Homeland Security is to keep us safe? They obviously don't care much about that since there are still so many basic security holes they don't bother to patch. But compiling files on American citizens, that they do very well indeed.

Homeland Security needs to be abolished and a thorough audit made of its activities. Prosecutions should follow.

Posted By Fred Hiatt on January 6, 2009, 5:06 PM

Posted way above: "That CBS 60 Minutes report wasn't all that bad. It showed that TSA people are suffering when passengers treat them rudely. Oh, poor babies!"

I hate TSA, and I feel they don't accomplish much. While I don't have a thing to hide and I know the feds have a lot of info on me due to security clearances in my family, TSA procedures make traveling too much of a hassle for me. So I just don't travel by air at all (one trip since 9/11 and that was enough)

But the situation with TSA agents, as with anyone else, will NOT improve until everyone respects them as just fellow humans if nothing else. They deal with at least as many idiots as the rest of us do, even among their own. Can you imagine having to enforce some of those stupid policies in order to keep your job when so few other jobs are available these days?

So be polite, be calm, even if complaining or protesting. If everyone tried this they probably wouldn't have such a high turnover. The TSA agents stand a chance to last longer and be better at their jobs. Maybe they'd at least nicer about it if nothing else.

Posted By Nowhere in the Air on January 6, 2009, 5:27 PM

15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were from the U.S. Government's best friend, Saudi Arabia, not from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba or any of the other hogwash "axis of evil" countries.
The Oklahoma City bombing was carried out by militant, white men. Timothy McVeigh was a registered Republican and an NRA member.
You're much more likely to die in a car accident than from some far-fetched act of terrorism.

Keep your stereotypes, I'll keep my liberties thanks.

Posted By Alex on January 6, 2009, 5:29 PM

My .2

The past five times I've taken a commercial flight (once a year) I have to go through the secondary screening. I buy my own tickets, and they are usually first class, Why I get stopped I don't know, but its always me. These laws are in place to be abused, and TSA is Dinner Security Theater, they are there to make the average numnut who flies feel safe and cozy inside. DHS is put in place to keep track of those of us who show up in their database more than once. Does this mean that I'm about to hit my limit and have people show up on my doorstep and ask me 'Please come with us peacefully sir'? Oh well, I suppose that being a computer geek might have something to do with it sure, but why every time? If I were going to cause an act of 'abject terror' I would do it while my feet are planted firmly on the ground, only an idiot would kill themselves. Ever notice how the word terror gets thrown around anymore? It seems like its in every speech used on the media anymore, Ah well, Have fun kids!

Posted By Jay on January 6, 2009, 5:34 PM

Just a comment that most of this is what airline employees have seen for years in your reservation record

Posted By airline ex on January 6, 2009, 5:57 PM

Turn the tables,find out every scrap of info on employees of the agencies,and release it online and everywhere else.

Posted By mike on January 6, 2009, 6:10 PM

I was added to the extra screening process by a Delta airlines agent that was not happy thaqt I did not like delta's crappy of service in Atlanta and told her so

Posted By Lquid Ricki on January 6, 2009, 6:24 PM

I can't see what the problem is. All that has happened is that the US now has rulers, like any other nation on Earth. And we are now all subjects. Get used to it. It isn't going to change.

Incidentally, the NRA argument for the constitutional right to bear arms is that they are needed to protect us from the state doing what it has just done. So that argument doesn't seem to have been worth much...

Posted By L Stobart on January 6, 2009, 6:29 PM

The inescapable logic of this situation is that there is a fine line between government abusing it's power and the government having the resources it needs in order to protect itself and the citizenry. Government abuses power, it's human nature. However, we also need to have a government that can protect us and itself from grave threats. It's a balancing act. Both sides are right, but neither extreme view is. If it was an easy problem that could be solved with pure reason, we wouldn't have any controversy. I tend to side with the government on this, but I am also deathly afraid of government and it's abuses. So, keep alert, inform yourself, and vote for the best people.

Posted By Tedh357 on January 6, 2009, 6:48 PM

I think we can trust them to do whats right since when has government ever broke the LAW. As long as we don't know anything about those who watch us we can be safe.

Posted By John Little on January 6, 2009, 6:57 PM

Sheesh, when will people learn the difference between FOIA (5 USC 552) and the Privacy Act (5 USC 552a). The latter gives the individual significantly greater access to materials pertaining to that individual. The former is mainly for use by third parties to get information about governmental actions that do not necessarily pertain to themselves. The data that is available, the deadlines for agency response, and the costs are entirely different under the two laws.

Many agencies also do not comprehend the difference.

The request made in this case should have been made under the Privacy Act, not FOIA.

Posted By Karl.Auerbach on January 6, 2009, 7:12 PM

Really, that leaves the Stasi to shame

Posted By Mark on January 6, 2009, 7:19 PM

I am visiting the US soon and I am dreading arriving and generally traveling due to the TSA. I am trying to minimize hassle by making sure I have everything in order but realise it's probably a wasted effort. What I am most concerned with is that there is no redress. If a TSA employee decides to detain someone for secondary questioning and they miss a flight, it's tough. If you answer back to a TSA employee they have almost unlimited power to inconvenience you. And these people are not known for their intelligence or common sense.

Posted By Soon to Travel to the US on January 6, 2009, 7:21 PM

are you kidding: POSTING here gets you on watchlists.

stick you head above the crowd; you're on a list.

welcome to nazi amerika ;(

Posted By AC on January 6, 2009, 7:24 PM

How to solve Security Theatre:

All passengers must strip naked. Carry of loaded hand guns and short barreled rifles/carbines or shotguns is allowed. If a passenger's destination precludes weapons carry, they may sign for a Colt 1911 and four loaded magazines, to be returned at the destination gate.

Any negligent discharge (ND) to be immediatly punished by flogging. 10 Lashes minimum.

Any injury or death from an ND... well, that's why everyone is armed.

I predict air travel becomes incredibly civil, and utterly safe from terrorism. And we may even clear out some of the idiots and dead wood in the process. Cutting the taxes and fees for HSA retardedness will spur a surge in air travel, keeping airlines solvent for decades.

Hey, I can dream...

Posted By PavePusher on January 6, 2009, 7:40 PM

To every honest person who willy-nilly regurgitates the "I do nothing illegal and therefore have absolutely nothing to hide" chorus...think of this analogy: If you play cards at all, you wouldn't lay out your cards on the table for all to see, would you? After all, you have nothing to hide, right? Hiding your cards from view of your fellow players is sensible, but that doesn't make it illegal. Have the gumption to demand more respect from the stewards of our tax-paying dollars - it's the least we can do to honor those who died for the very freedom to play our cards "close to the vest."

Posted By Hugh on January 6, 2009, 7:44 PM

The fact is that all the money spent today on security theater at the airports would buy a hell of a lot of good old-fashioned counter-intelligence work, infiltrating organizations that mean to do us harm. I hope that the new administration brings back a bit of sanity to this process, but I'm not holding my breath for it.

Posted By Some Guy on January 6, 2009, 7:57 PM

Anyone who is ok with this intrusion into their lives are obviously not students of history. People are like a herd of sheep these days. Everyone wants the "Shepherd" (Government) to take care of all their needs for them instead of showing a little initiative and taking care of themselves. This trend is ranging from security to paying the mortgage on a house they couldn't afford when they bought it. Trusting someone else to look out for your safety and well being is setting yourself up for disaster. Have the guts to take care of yourself and tell the government to mind its own damn business. I seem to recall that working out rather well for our forefathers....

Posted By AS on January 6, 2009, 7:58 PM

Freedom is like a muscle. If you don't exercise it regularly and vigorously, if will wither, atrophy, and die.

Posted By Da_Truff on January 6, 2009, 7:58 PM

I'm an American living abroad, and I've come to dread traveling through American airports. Almost all of the post 9/11 security is useless against terrorism--nothing but the government creating and using fear as excuse to exercise more power over individual freedoms. Two points:

The US has been brought to its knees and goaded into a sense of panic by the 9/11 attacks. This wasn't a massive attack by a powerful enemy. This was 19 guys with box cutters. What kind of massive conspiracy did it take to finance and organize them? One meeting to come up with the idea and assign roles. Between them, they come up with the money for a few of them to take flying lessons (how hard is it to save up a thousand bucks if you work hard and live cheap?). One guy spends an hour or two on Travelocity getting the information they need to coordinate flights. Then the administration tells us these 19 guys demonstrate a massive danger to the most powerful nation in the history of the world and use that fear to turn our laws and morality inside out. And we're, by and large, stupid enough to go along with it.

What was really necessary? At the time 19 people with box cutters could seize control of airplanes--leveraging $1 weapons into a 600 mph missile with 50 tons of jet fuel aboard. The new terrorists weren't interested in just hijacking or blowing up jets. Keeping bombs (whether in shoes or shampoo bottles) off our planes didn't address this new threat at all. And, plainly, new security will never be 100% effective--if a terrorist is willing to die, then his group can send 10 teams out and happily accept eight or nine of them being caught. Someone will always get through. So all this scrutiny gives the government more power to keep track of and control all of us, but it doesn't make us safe (and if you think this sounds paranoid you haven't read either your history books or the news of the last few years). What would keep us safe? Just keep the terrorists out of the cockpit--a good strong door that keeps the bad guys from using the airplane itself as a massive bomb (again, just destroying the plane itself is no longer the terrorists' goal--killing the few hundred on the plane is far less attractive than using the plane to kill thousands on the ground and destroy national icons).

The funny thing is that so many people behind the scare tactics and push for more intrusive government call themselves patriots. All along it's been the protestors who've been saying the US is a great and powerful nation and the "patriotic" administration that's been telling us the US is weak and puny and that we need to cower under the blanket of a police state. The US is a great nation and these terrorist groups will never haver any significant power to hurt us beyond what we ourselves give them--why must we act like desperate cowards? Aren't we supposed to be better than that? Aren't we supposed to be stronger than that?

Posted By Peter Rivard on January 6, 2009, 8:20 PM

Fellow humans? Maybe. Rent-a-cops made untouchable by upgrading them to federal employee status for certain. Previously paid for by airlines through airport security, now a surcharge on your tickets. Did your ticket drop by the same amount? Secret rules, no appeal. Massive data warehousing to do a task that experts say cannot be accomplished that way. Described by a British MP as excuding "a sort of arrogant incompetence". It's a circus, and you're the circus animal.

The dangers they say they're protecting you from in the past were handled as well as possible by secret services, especially the humint departments of same, and trying to have regular police, military, or purpose-created federal agencies handle them have so far booked no more than token successes. You can apologise all you want, but it doesn't change that this has turned out a direct attack on constitutional freedoms. What was it again that the esteemed Mr. Franklin said on that subject?

For those who are better up to their contemporary idioms, everybody but the federal agents themselves, and perhaps the terrorists (they see us dance), lose in the deal, thus the whole thing is to be spelled FAIL.

Posted By Anonymous Coward on January 6, 2009, 8:25 PM

Since half the 9/11 hijackers are surviving, how many identity thefts has this multimillion dollar system found? If the answer is "none" the system would appear to be worthless.

Posted By Peter Veeck on January 6, 2009, 8:35 PM

It's bad here, but it's worse in England. They've passed laws that allow police to hack your home computers just based on suspicion. I wonder how long before they do that here? And if people will just sit by and say, "Eh, _I_ have nothing to hide," like they do now.

Freedom has risks. Why can't people understand that?

Posted By John P on January 6, 2009, 8:35 PM

Lot of people comment here (and elsewhere) that "You have nothing to fear if you dont have anything to hide". Its not the point that someone has anything to hide. Its about privacy and how information can get abused. Information is the power and whoever holds that information gets to play tough. Imagine all sorts of information on a person (senator, public servant, whistle blower, etc) can be used to buy silence, to prevent someone from competing, or running for office. Imagine the amount of blackmailing and corruption that would ensue (not that we lack it now).

Posted By AC on January 6, 2009, 8:37 PM

It might make some sense to keep a list of potential bad actors if it wasn't so damn simple to travel under some one else's name. If you check in on-line, the only place your ID is compared with the name on your boarding pass is at the entrance to the security line, by a non-TSA person who has no ability to check your name against a list or make sure the boarding pass is valid and unaltered.

Posted By Robert Johnson on January 6, 2009, 8:37 PM

The audits of TSA security's futility are freely available. None of the DHS programs are worth spit except the armored doors on planes and the armed sky marshals riding with the passengers. The rest is wasted money and time and leaves people less free, exactly what the terrorists want.

The only real security in the air comes from people's instant and unflinching willingness to fight and die with fists teeth and anything else at hand in response to a hijack attempt.

The price of freedom is high, yet people who know real freedom are always willing to pay. It just takes an occasional reminder of what is at stake, and how personal this war really is.

Posted By real security on January 6, 2009, 8:45 PM

Some of the screenshots look like a telex sent via the SITA network (see http://sita.aero for more info). I guess the DHS receives a copy of what the airline company receives, which should be rich on personal details. Further, the some of this information is transmitted repeatedly between airports and the airline again over SITA under the form of passenger manifests and/or information over the ticket. After all, the handling agent doing the check-in in Europe must match your ticket to information previously provided to them by the airline.

So, your travel pattern (and probably some personal details) will also be stored at the systems of the handling agents at the airports you traveled through - in your example I see FCO (Rome - Fiumicino), EWR (New York - Newark) and AMS (Amsterdam - Schiphol).

All of this is the normal/usual way of working of the airline industry.

If I was you I would be worried what those handling agents and especially the airline do with this data, rather than your own government :)

Posted By random sleepless /. reader on January 6, 2009, 8:50 PM

Number of terrorists caught with this system, ZERO. Welcome to Soviet Amerika.

Great post Sean, thanks for the share.

Posted By blah on January 6, 2009, 8:55 PM

The only people ever caught by the TSA and Homeland Security are the innocent! The guilty are NEVER caught this way. The potentially guilty are much, much further from discovery by these means.

Posted By Evan Hart on January 6, 2009, 9:05 PM

Next I suppose they'll want to try to implant us with RFID chips or GPS devices just in case we try to flee the country unnoticed. What year is this again?

Posted By Lester on January 6, 2009, 9:05 PM

This is why I will never travel to the US. The Government is basically turning it into an Orwellian society and the citizens don't seem to care, as long as it's in the name of 'liberty' and 'freedom'. Pathetic.

Posted By Devin on January 6, 2009, 9:12 PM

I'm guessing they blacked out information which would show that the NSA was involved in domestic data collection, which would be a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.

Posted By Ruggy on January 6, 2009, 9:29 PM

The (b)(2) notations you can see on the blacked-out areas are not what underneath the blackouts. Those the FOIA exemption references. Basically it tells you which FOIA exemption is the reason for the blackouts.
I don't have a list handy, though.

Posted By FOIA Info on January 6, 2009, 9:53 PM

We might as well face it. Our government is watching our every move whether we like it or not. Our rights have been thrown out the window. Unfortunately, in Ben Franklin's words, it is time to "refresh the tree of liberty". We are being watched so big-money interests can continue their conquering of the globe thereby pissing off every Tom-Dick-Harry country while we sit back and do nothing. What say ye?

Posted By Phil Harris on January 6, 2009, 10:15 PM

There is always someone watching, sizing you up, and categorising you no matter where you are. What makes you so special? Why so paranoid? If you're not a bad ass, you've got nothing to worry about.
Suck it up, or move to the jungle.

Oh and BTW: Your so called "rights" were granted by the same government that is watching you.

Posted By Dennis on January 6, 2009, 10:58 PM

Now if the "G-men" would come looking for you when you missed your return flight in some hellhole of a nation, I would probably be a cheerleader of such intensive tracking of American citizens.

But I suspect that running into trouble overseas still carries the same penalty that it has for decades: Bureaucratic red tape from the Feds until whoever is looking for you gives up or the host country finds your body and - a long shot - cares enough to return it.

The more things change, the more they stay the same: The security apparatus in our government has minimum standards of importance and wealth that you must meet before they can be motivated to view you as anything other than a potential threat.

Posted By ibsteve2u on January 6, 2009, 10:59 PM

US foreign policy is there to protect the interest of America and its peoples. So all this information thats being kept is to help protect your freedom.

Posted By Eliot on January 6, 2009, 11:41 PM

Half a minute with GIMP revealed all the material "blacked out" of the gif files. The greyed-out stuff is secure, however.

For the illiterates who think we don't have a right to travel, start here:

Article II, Section 1.
...
Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

--
Every fool who thinks TSA is even a teeny bit justifiable is an enemy of the US Constitution. Cheney and his sock puppet are both traitors in time of war. Only two more weeks until those criminals are gone!

Posted By Jamestown1670 on January 7, 2009, 12:00 AM

Man, this makes me want to smoke more weed

Posted By john on January 7, 2009, 12:07 AM

>>""US foreign policy is there to protect the interest of America and its peoples. So all this information thats being kept is to help protect your freedom."

This is such crap I cannot believe anyone believes it. US foreign policy is there to protect those who are in power. They dont do a damn thing to protect you or your job or your savings or your ability to pay for your children's education or anything.
They invade countries becuase they think it will help them stay in power (ie, get re-elected).
If they wanted to protect you and America, they would be working to figure out how to depend your civil liberties from the monied and powerful.

Posted By average on January 7, 2009, 12:43 AM

I travel internationally with some frequency and have yet to have a problem. I've had my baggage checked with a little more scrutiny than usual once, but not with any severity. Do I have a file? Since I travel regularly out of the US, then probably yes. Will I ask for it? Not until a problem comes up... I fear asking could cause a problem to come up!

A few mentioned comparisons to various unpleasant regimes and several clarified the current plausibly innocent intent. I'd have to agree. The information will be misused at some point in the future. It will also most likely be illegally accessed by ID thieves, etc. many times over its existence.

I also agree that this really does little to protect us from terror. It actually adds to it! (Consider this causes many to be afraid, the very definition of terror.) Much of what is done in the name of safety fails to add to our security unless you consider the job/financial security some get from the new jobs this creates. Most of what is done is simply security theater, performed for our benefit (making us feel better, think the government is doing its job) and the government's benefit (fear-mongering creates an environment wherein many willingly give up rights, allow more laws and taxes, and generally bend to the government's will).

None of this is conspiracy theory. I am not accusing any single group or political party of trying to rule the world or overthrow our proper government. Many of the politicians are not the evil, self-serving jerks we believe them to be. And whether they are or not, most honestly believe these laws are for the common good. It is a natural thing to want to gather more power and, in my opinion, it is very natural for any organization or bureaucracy to evolve to support its own existence. This is why we have a constitution, to protect us from these issues. And this is why we should stand together in support of the constitution and against these trespasses.

Crap... I laid it on much heavier than I intended. Sorry. I'll shut up and go home now.

Posted By HNKelley on January 7, 2009, 1:02 AM

What I always tell people who are prepared to put up with all kinds of invasions of privacy is this:

Protection of privacy is not only a protection against your current government. It is not only about preventing abuse by corrupt or stupid officials right now.

Perhaps more importantly, it is about making it harder for less scrupulous future governments to abuse the power. The more data is there, the less it takes and the more temptation is there.

You don't know who will be in power in 10-15 years. Germany went from democracy to dictatorship in that time, and yet it took another 6 years before the world realized the true extent of what had happened.

With the wrong government in power, that information you think is innocent may suddenly not be. Politically active in the "wrong" organization? Traveled to/from the "wrong" locations (the new Axis of Evil, perhaps)? Traveled on the same planes as the "wrong" people?

It is NOT about whether or not you have anything to hide yourself or now.

For that matter, it doesn't even take the wrong government; just the wrong situation:

You might find yourself in a civil suit where your travel records might be subpoenaed and misconstrued to cast you in an unfavorable light. It only takes the right judge to decide they are relevant and should be available to the court and the government not objecting. Divorce proceedings or custody battle and you've frequently traveled on business with that woman they are trying to construe you as having had an affair with? Tough luck.

Informations gathering is not inherently wrong, but without the right balance, there are just too many things that can go wrong, and with the numbers of people traveling, some of them inevitably will go wrong.

Do you want to be the person who gets to experience how wrong it can go?

The information shown in this blog entry doesn't worry me that much - the level of detail is quite low. But it is sufficient to cause problems, and is it really needed?

As it stands, I know of no published review of whether or not this information gathering is actually having any effect over and above causing inconvenience for normal travelers. Why is that? I realize they need to be careful about publishing details, but a review by security cleared people who are allowed to published summary findings such as how many people have been rightfully arrested as a result of this information, and how many people have been detained and later released because they had done nothing wrong would not seem like an excessive thing to ask of a government agency that is affecting peoples lives and spending a hell of a lot of money doing so.

Posted By Vidar Hokstad on January 7, 2009, 6:16 AM

By now non-US citizens have to give all 10 finger prints at the border. Yes, US citizens don't care about it. Since the system to take the prints is now in place, do you think if something like a (staged) second 9/11 would happen, they wouldn't take finger prints of everybody after that?

Posted By Anonymous Commenter on January 7, 2009, 8:03 AM

The answer is guns, bombs, and insurrection!

Posted By Hassan Bin Sober on January 7, 2009, 8:22 AM

I'm sure the records that the government keeps is far far more bloated than what was asked in this FOIA. Remember that you have no idea what the records contain, thus you have no idea how many they withhold for "security" purposes. This then means the FOIA becomes worthless and is just a buffer to calm society about how much information they are truly gathering.

Don't be fooled about not having cameras in this country, we have plenty of them. They're used to catch "red light runners". They very well can be used to monitor intersections for people too.

Those that agree that we should be monitored need to go have a read of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights again. Some of the things currently in place are very questionable and could read like some interpretations of the Bible (ie out of context). Go read 1984 or watch V for Vendetta. Those may be fiction, but they are not far from where we are heading.

The internet is full of the technology that is available to the government. Hell, the DOD is the one that *funds* most of the breakthrough research. What do you think they'll use it for?

If this country were ever to have another revolution or some other upset that the government didn't like the population (at this point) would be steam rolled and put back into its place. That is the very thing the fore fathers strived to prevent. The whole idea was to give the population a chance were that needed again. Read up on Jefferson, he thought it necessary if the situation was grave enough to warrant the idea.

Posted By LaughingMan on January 7, 2009, 8:24 AM

What's disturbing is this fallacy that more information collection = better security. Programs like these aren't really offering us much more security at all, but they would provide reasonably good information to track a bad guy down after something evil had happened.

The cost to personal privacy is too high.

Basically, 9/11 has been disgustingly turned into a security cash cow for whoever can lobby their favorite government official or Congress making extravagant promises about IT that's poorly managed, poorly deployed and costs too much.

I send my country's best to be put in harms way on the "battleground of freedom" while more ca$h pays to remove those freedoms they fight for.

People who approve, believe in, and purchase this technology really don't get it at all.

Posted By Skip M on January 7, 2009, 9:03 AM

It just takes one corrupt official to lose some files to "external agencies" and international travel is in danger.
The Doctrine of "Homeland Security" should be replaced by the Doctrine of *Citizen* Security.

What use is a safe America that loses citizens traveling abroad.

When American citizens travel all over the world, if their information is leaked by a corrupt employee who does not understand the implications of his actions, he cannot be sufficiently punished since he might just be a new recruit, out to make some cash. But if these files reach a few fanatics in the Middle East, all American citizens who travel abroad have great risks.

In the long term, this defeats the entire globalization movement.

Seriously, "Homeland Security" *must* be changed to "Citizen Security". This will also mean that the US cannot pick fights with countries that do not align to democratic principles. It's so much more of a foreign affairs problem the moment there's one data leak.
I think UK citizens' information has been lost accidentally quite a few times. Imagine the dangers of traveler information landing into the hands of those war-mongering Islamic fundamentalists.

Either stop collecting the data or ask everyone to collect data.
The latter is even more dangerous as it allows even less careful governments - that would mean a global underground market for people's personal information.
What if your medical records get into wrong hands?
What if your property records get into wrong hands?
What if the Govt of the nation you travel to demands access to your files and stores copies?
What if the regime there is toppled by some fundamentalist fanatical coup?

The DoHS cannot protect all governments, can it?
If you make data collection and distribution among Govt or secret services the norm, other nations are bound to ask for the data.

Does that not defeat the entire point?

Just how is this going to help business especially when corporate America needs more business, local and global?
US businessmen need a sense of protection before they travel to strike deals.
Is this not basic business sense?

Posted By joe sixpack on January 7, 2009, 9:23 AM

The entire first page you posted here (and likely all the other information as well) is just your PNR (Passenger Name Record) that the airline forwarded to DHS. It doesn't contain any information that DHS collected independently on you. Your PNR will contain every last iota of information on your travel in case the inevitable dispute/problem/change occurs. For complicated travel plans involving itinerary changes, flight cancellations and rebookings, multiple stops, etc., the PNR can grow quite large. Just from glancing at the first page, the first black-out covers over your Record Locator - this is that six number/letter combination the agent gives you when you make a reservation. The second black out just covers over your email address.

Basically, there's nothing sinister or even surprising here. I imagine most people would be faintly alarmed at the level of information any large corporation collects on customer transactions. Airlines particularly need to collect lots of info on your travel for all manner of reasons.

Posted By cmdahler on January 7, 2009, 9:25 AM

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin

Enough Said .

Posted By Grunge on January 7, 2009, 9:26 AM

the worst terrorists in history did not come on airplanes or with bombs.

they came in government uniforms, carrying orders from the state, to arrest its 'enemies'.

Posted By obvious coward on January 7, 2009, 9:47 AM

"How safe is your information? Regulations prohibit officials from sharing the records of any traveler—or the government's risk assessment of any traveler—with airlines or private companies"

Regulations prohibited TSA X-ray officials at LAX from texting the baggage handlers as to which bags contained stuff worth stealing.

Regulations also prohibited the President authorizing wiretaps on citizens absent of court-approved warrants.

Posted By Traveller on January 7, 2009, 9:55 AM

Hi Karl,
While I've been grateful for the comments to all of the above readers, I'm unable to respond to each and every one. But you have raised a factual question, Karl.

Yes, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act are two separate things. But I filed a FOIA request, and I was successful doing so. I can't vouch for a Privacy Act request. If others have been successful using that method, they can post comments explaining how to do so. On the Customs and Border Protection website, as confirmed with a spokesperson at the agency, the preferred method for this particular agency is a FOIA request. See the page
on the Customs Dept. website

For further information from DHS, see these pages, which will open as PDFs:

Please also see Edward Hasbrouck's comment above: He points to additional useful links as well for further info.

Thanks,
Sean

Posted By Sean (author of the blog post) on January 7, 2009, 10:15 AM

The problem is most of these data collection measures can easily be subverted by professional criminals. If you're going to a country of interest, you would simply make 2 bookings, one from the U.S. to, say, Europe, then another one on a different foreign airline from a foreign web site and foreign credit card to continue your journey. Or you would use a different mode of transport...fly to dubai and drive to iran for instance. IP addresses are the most pointless, you can easily fake your IP. Collecting who made your booking? Please, that's impossible over the internet. How hard would it be to just drive to Mexico to take a flight to somewhere? Unless Mexico is sharing passenger data also, you just sneaked out without the U.S. govt knowing (the U.S. does not check passports when you leave the U.S.) All this subversion without even faking any documents or doing anything illegal.

Posted By San on January 7, 2009, 10:23 AM

For once, I'm with Schneier ("I think it's a waste of time. There's this myth that we can pick terrorists out of the crowd if we only knew more information."). I used to believe that more information was a good thing, but years in IT have proven to me that more information just leads to overload, confusion, and false assumptions. Best way to bring about wrong decisions and stifle activity is to provide too much information.

Posted By Brian Knoblauch on January 7, 2009, 10:50 AM

Re: Brian Knoblauch

I'm in IT, too, and see the exact same problems here. Collecting random or too much information causes far more trouble than doing nothing.

On top of that the government has PROVEN time and time again that it CAN'T keep this information from being misused, abused, or just plain stuck on the internet.

Posted By JC on January 7, 2009, 11:45 AM

A recent border crossing of my own has revealed that local law enforcement is also sharing arrest records regardless of the outcome. So even if you've just been arrested, not prosecuted or even found innocent...expect to be treated like a criminal. Due process and personal privacy no longer exist in the US and they likely never will again thanks to the direction we've allowed the country to move.

hehe, also nice job they did 'blacking out' relevant portions... the revealed codes relate to CBP procedures and responses e.g. admitted, deported, etc... if you're ever unfortunate enough to have to sit in an immigration officer's office, they usually have a nice cheat sheet posted next to their computer... typical DH$ nonsense.
Bin Laden has won. we are broke and in a constant state of fear. I recommend learning mandarin or arabic.

Posted By pb on January 7, 2009, 12:06 PM

As someone who gets tagged for extra screening every time she flies, I really want to know why my tickets get highlighted. About the only reason that I've been able to come up with is that I have been vocal in my views that the current security climate has vastly overstepped what our Constitution fairly allows. If this is true, it would be rather ironic that being vocal about the original document of our country's governance is what constitutes marking someone as a threat.

Posted By AmyR on January 7, 2009, 12:21 PM

I remember my Civics teacher complaining about the lack of basic knowledge about the US Constitution and stated ideals for this government.

He also said that this ignorance will be the downfall of our Democratic Republic.

I didn't believe it then, but I wished I had. Now we have millions of Americans that approve any action legal or illegal by our government and businesses.

I remember the introduction of airport screenings, drug testing, credit information brokering, data collection, data mining, airport searches, government spying on its citizens and general unchecked power of the executive branch.

Next to come will be DNA screenings, remote mental profiling, citizen dossier consolidation, drive-by house screenings, random detentions, and RFID implants from birth. All which will be de-facto mandatory as having a driver's license is now.

By then any hope of having a free society will be completely stamped out.

Posted By Citizen Kane on January 7, 2009, 12:39 PM

Am I the only one who noticed that you can easily READ all the government redactions on your scanned documents?

For example, on the TECSII Passenger activity report all the INSP: fields say "(b)(6)&(b)(7)" It also says "(b)(2)" for each TERM/LANE entry and it also says "(b)(2)" in the upper left, upper right and in the footer. On the other pages, the same ids appear except for the one mention of Email requested by: "(b)(7)(c)"

Not a big deal to me, but you are probably violating federal law by posting these. A law, by the way, that I disagree with, so more power to you. But if you were doing it unintentionally, you might want to consider the consequences.

Posted By John Q. Public on January 7, 2009, 12:41 PM

Exactly the reason I drive everywhere, not fly.

Even when gas was 4 bucks a gallon, I'd prefer to do that than have the government track my every move.

The real question here is, how much money does it cost to keep these records? And really, how many "bad people" has it helped to eradicate? My guess is the figures probably don't add up.

So for those of you who would prefer being questioned to death before you travel over personal freedom, go right ahead and wait in the lines. I'll take the car, thanks.

Posted By Karen on January 7, 2009, 1:20 PM

My issue is one of money and effectiveness. Is this program effective?

I can understand why they would not want to tell us today what they are doing today, but they better be able to tell me today what they were doing 10 yrs ago. This is vital to a free society. How do we know if we are really safe or that the money isn't going to an illegal operation?

$30 millions seems like quite a bit for a travel database in which other entities perform most of the data entry. Is this money too much, not enough, just right? Should we investigate alternative methods? These are the topics we should be discussing. Issue surrounding profiling, name recognition, and metallic body components all dance around the real topic. Does this work?

Posted By Stephen on January 7, 2009, 1:29 PM

This program of information collection was started under the Clinton Adminstration - BEFORE 911! Why?
Why is the author chosen for special searches?

Flying has become quite a risky experience for people. The customer abuse by the airline employees (who are all powerful now in their ability to order you around and report you if they do not like you) alone is huge deterrent to flying in the US. As with bad schools, you don't realize how bad the abuse of people is unless it happens to you or one of yours. Otherwise, you go blissfully about your business thinking everything is wonderful until...

We need the government to protect against illegals and terrorists but US citizens involved in political activity or just fingered by a nut in the airline industry or security seem to be the major target of intelligence surveillance in the US. But watch, when the politicians get involved in writing laws to "protect us" they will be protecting the terrorists and illegals leaving US citizens open to attack.

Posted By Sara on January 7, 2009, 1:33 PM

That useless agency needs to be dissolved and the dual passport creep that runs it be deported to where his loyalty lies.

Posted By rosa R on January 7, 2009, 1:34 PM

@Peter Quinter:
"The information has been collected for years by Customs, yet how many alleged terrorists have been caught by Customs? The answer is none."

The answer is, in fact, at least one (but not based on the collection of information): Ahmed Ressam in Port Angeles, WA: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/nation-world/terroristwithin/chapter12.html

Posted By Kevin on January 7, 2009, 1:47 PM

Did you order a special meal? Muslim meal? Kosher meal? Veggie meal?

I wonder if those would trip any flags.

Posted By John Locke on January 7, 2009, 1:59 PM

I don't believe the letters and numbers seen in the blacked out spaces are the redacted information. They appear to be references to the sections of the public information act that excepting those types of data from being released.

See: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/552.html

Scroll about 3/4 the way down to "(b) This section does not apply to matters that are—"

Posted By Kevin on January 7, 2009, 2:04 PM

Homeland Security isn't so much a fear tactic as much as it's a security blanket and a false one at that. You can't really fight terrorism, which is why it's so dangerous. There's no country to fight against. It just happens. The only thing we can do it deal with it. It's hard to say that but I think it's true. People don't want to admit to it but Homeland Security can't prevent terrorism any better than regular police or citizens.

Posted By Mitch on January 7, 2009, 3:25 PM

An unencrypted database with so much sensitive information is a disaster waiting to happen. It's not a question of *if* a major leak will happen, it's *when*. Only then will DHS be shamed into taking real security measures on the database, both the contents and who accesses it. Another sad case of government incompetence.

Posted By Ps on January 7, 2009, 3:37 PM

The Gestapo used Census records to round up Jews. Will we wind up doing the same for dissidents, like they do in China, with TSA records?

And what is more important is that for the price of a pair of shoes and some stuff that in reality was no great risk, we now have to take off our shoes. If it only takes 1 minute to do and inspect, and that wages of the TSA agent, and all the infrastructure is $60/hour (its much higher, I'm sure) then every pair of shoes that are taken off cost a $1 to inspect. How many million travelers are there per day? So do the multiplication. $2000 or so dollars spent once is costing us $10,000,000 or so a day forever.

The way to destroy America is not through terrorists, but rather scaring us to the point we will spend ourselves to death to protect against unlikely threats, much like the soviet Union did with it's military spending excesses that helped bring down that country.

What percentage of our total spending is to "protect" us? If it keeps going this way, soon there will be no money for the things we really need, like good roads, education, health care and then we can wave goodbye to a bit over two hundred years of an idea.

Stupid.

Posted By Allen S. on January 7, 2009, 4:24 PM

The really scary thing is that, for most people, IP addresses can change. If you have dial-up you're likely to get a different IP every time you dial in. But even with broadband, unless you pay extra, your IP can change if your router is powered-down for a while.

There's actually no technical reason why things should be that way with broadband but ISPs figure they can charge more for truly static IP. There is a reason to try to minimize the number of IPs in use, and with dial-up where you're not always connected that is possible (IPs get re-used by different callers). With broadband, where you're always connected, that's not possible and each subscriber needs a separate IP. Profit margins mean broadband customers have to pay extra to be sure of retaining the same IP if their DHCP lease expires when their router is powered down.

Whether dial-up or broadband your IP can change. If the IP is taken as a sure indicator of identity, that's a very bad idea. Even if it's taken as a possible indicator of identity, it's still a bad idea.

So the terrorist next door fakes my details. Oh, and he happens to have the IP I was using previously. Bad, bad, bad idea. But I feel certain that's how they use such data.

Posted By Paul Allen on January 7, 2009, 5:48 PM

Looking at the DHS info here doesn't show much information of high intelligence value. My concern is that DHS is operating by a political fiat and is doing a lot of busywork which only inconveniences the lawful and diminishes a free, civil society. While the collected data may seems impressive to shallower minds, the data collected is not incontrovertable, verifiable, or thus necessarily meaningful. The DHS seems to be creating terabytes of junk data in a poorly conceived, architected, and failing mission to protect the citizens and nation.

To the idea of the USA changing to a fascist or socialist system is ultimately in the hands of the USA's citizens. While the American ideal has been a "land of the free and home of the brave", the very existence of the phenomena we are discussing here indicates the USA citizenry is not free or brave. Free, brave, competent, socially-responsible people would simply not tolerate such a regime. The USA finds itself in economic turmoil out of decades of a social mentality praising self-centeredness and greed, we have a semi-literate semi-demented impulsive population who cannot recite (or necessarily understand) the U.S. Bill of Rights and don't care--they prefer to prioritize themselves and impulse-driven credit-bought consumer merchandise. We have both "1984" and "Brave New World", but we en masse do not have a genuinely brave and competent population. We have sheep. We do not have genuine bravery, genuine intelligence, genuine candor, genuine freedom, and genuine caring for society. We have a USA which wants to survive while infested with a citizenry who have proven themselves to be greedy, infantile, incompetent, self-isolated/self-interested, and in sum of these attributes too greedy, stupid, and personally and collectively irresponsible to form and sustain a truly great nation. If the citizenry of the United States genuinely wanted a free and prosperous USA the world would naturally admire, value, and aspire to emulate, those citizenry would know it's founding documents and history, enhance their personal and collective competence and fortitude, and as a free, strong, just, caring, human-centered, and competent population have a government which would reflect the same virtues and values.

Posted By esmith512 on January 7, 2009, 6:21 PM

Being an ardent supporter of Irish nationalism and a proponent of expelling the British from Ireland by any means, I can no longer fly or even cross the border. Indeed, I get very nervous whenever a border patrol car goes by on I-75 in Michigan. They can stop me for any reason and ship me off to the limeys who would love to get me out of circulation. But as they say in Ireland, Tiocfaidh ar la!

Posted By Keltic Kal on January 7, 2009, 6:29 PM

I think you're all a bunch of douche bags. I am not doing anything illegal, so I could care less if they know all my travel. Since when has this country become such a bunch wimps. God forbid if we get attacked again, then you same people will be complaining how the gov't doesn't do enough.

*Let's see if the moderater posts this.

Posted By Ryan on January 7, 2009, 7:09 PM

One never hears that airline hijacking could have been prevented prior to 9/11. In the late 1960's we had a number of commercial flights hijacked to Cuba. The airlines... as usual... cried poverty when it was recommended that they reinforce cockpit doors to prevent planes from being hijacked. If this was done back then... the 4 planes could not have been hijacked... Thus, no 9/11... [granted they could have done something else like another attempted bombing of the World Trade Center]... But, then, we would not have the joy of contending with the incompetent empire building paranoids at Homeland Security..

Posted By a casual observer on January 7, 2009, 9:26 PM

To prevent an airline from being hijacked, just arm the passengers. Instead of that silly phone in the headrest, put two locked compartments that are controlled by the pilot. If a terrorist pulls a knife, the pilot can unlock every knife compartment automatically. If the terrorist has a gun, unlock the gun compartments. easy.

Jack

Posted By Jack on January 8, 2009, 1:09 AM

The terrorism problem could be solved two ways I think: A) Current approach: try to stop it. Scare people. Track everybody and everything, or B) Don't fear it. Put in order the causes of death. Dangerous things would be driving a car, smoking, unhealthy life... Probably terrorism would be at the very end of the list. Tens of thousands of people die every year on car accidents. No one is doing a war against that.
It's the media's fault to create this feeling about the word 'terrorism'. How many digits do you need to count the times it was mentioned during the last years?
I think most rules enforced to find suspicious behaviour just annoy people with nothing to hide. Those wanting to hide stuff can probably do it easily.

Why I'm not allowed to carry one big bottle of soap into the plane, but I'm allowed to carry 10 or 20 small ones. So what difference does it make? I can mix it inside the plane, right? Or several people could bring many small bottles. Also you don't need a big knife to be dangerous. You could also be dangerous with a pen and knowing karate.
Is this so people just feel safe? Because I feel annoyed but not safer.

Our basic internet activity is tracked and we loose our privacy. But if you want to send confidential stuff there are easy ways to do it, and no one would notice. I guess no one is going to send a plain text sms or an email with detailed instructions of a crime he/she is going to commit ...

Posted By Cookie monster on January 8, 2009, 5:14 AM

We'll start finding out on January 21 just HOW MUCH the government has been intruding into our private lives.

Posted By Sj on January 8, 2009, 8:39 AM

Regarding the Homeland Security invasion of my personal trips in and out of the country. I believe as someone else has already mentioned earlier...this is a 'scare tactic'. As long as a government can control it's 'people' by fear, it controls. Regardless of what happened on 9/11, this is no reason for the people of the United States to be treated as 2nd class citizens.
I call all this 'bushism' to the fullest! For over 7 years, this man has terrorized the world with his "terror" tactics! Terrorism has been around for as long as man has existed! Isn't that what "GOD" did to Adam about the Apple? It will never be stopped! I believe that Homeland Security should be dissolved and the current law enforcement agencies communicate to each other in accordance with security in mind. I seriously believe that this is only one of many ways to start a 'watch' system (Big Brother) to control peoples whereabouts.

Posted By stephen socorso on January 8, 2009, 11:11 AM

Why we can't bring liquids on the aircraft??

Well, Ramzi Yousef (who attacked the NYC Trade Center in 1993 killing lots of innocent people) took it upon himself in 1994 to use a liquid bomb with a timer to cut a Japanese business man in half on a plane in flight and the explosion almost hit the fuel line. This flight was leaving Manila and headed to Narita. Do your homework and stop whining at the airports. The radicals have the motivation and the means. If you want the airport employees to opt for people having their hair gel instead of their safety, the choice is yours but don't whine about it.

Posted By Buck on January 8, 2009, 12:31 PM

This is a complete waste of time. From a mathematical standpoint, the more data they collect, the more incorrect their models/predictions become. In other words, the bigger the pile of hay (data), the harder it becomes to find the needle (terrorist). Even if you do nothing wrong, it means that the more data they collect on us, the greater the chance for a "false-positive" identification (e.g. the chance that you, a lawful person, will be incorrectly fingered as the bad guy increases!). Here are a few more reasons why everyone should be concerned ...

The way the TSA operates, you are not innocent until proven guilty, you are guilty until proven innocent. Hope you have the time and money to fight them.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution guards against unreasonable searches and seizures. There is NOTHING reasonable about how the TSA treats us!

The amount of data they are collecting is a huge security risk. All it takes is one file to slip, or one computer with this info to get hacked and everyone there could easily become victims of identity theft. Not good people, not good.

Posted By Sara G on January 8, 2009, 12:54 PM

They certainly collect enough information. So to evade I buy my ticket online from an internet cafe or local library or numerous other online source, or better yet I call and make the purchase using the stolen credit card or the debit card from the bank where I opened an account using a false idenity. I am sure there are many other ways that occure to some one looking to hide their identity, that I can't even imagine, since I am not looking to hide mine. In a nutshell what is going on is they are collecting alot of information on me that is not only a waste of time and resources, but as mentioned in many other posts a step toward a stalinist type govt. Lets be honest this is a measure that looks impressive makes the unthinking feel warm, fuzzy and secure, and opens up an end run for other agencies to circumvent our laws and gather information and does not stop any terrorist. The 9/11 terrorist were all flagged and id on several occassions and amazingly all of this homeland security was not in place to help flag them. Even more amazingly is the flags that went up were routine and mundane in nature. It was the lack of follow up and follow through by the police, FBI, CIA, Customs and Immagration agencies that allowed the attacks to happen and failed to prevent them. If in any one of those instances where the 9/11 hijackers were flagged had been actively pursued, the attacks could have been prevented. Instead of more laws (it mystify's me why people think that passing more law's is the solution, especialy when the existing laws are not being enforced)we need to kick some people in the butt, start demanding accountibility and get them to move beyond their apathy or to motivate the political types to act on something that is routine and seemingly mundane not be glamorous or high profile, to follow through and do their jobs.

Posted By tipring on January 8, 2009, 3:42 PM

I was once detained when returning from a vacation to Mexico. Two agents took me by both my arms at the JETWAY and asked if I was "Robert Johnson". they actually asked for me by name. I answered affirmative and then I asked what this was all about . They said " We don't know , we are just doing what they tell us to do". I was then taken to what looked like a small police station at Kennedy Airport, and asked to sit down. I was then summoned to the "desk" by the "desk Sargent" and asked for all of my credit cards, and other personal identification , including my passport, drivers license, social security card, and other items. ALL were taken away from me and into a back room by another officer. I respectfully asked the desk Sargent what this was all about and why I was being detained. He said, and I quote" I don't know, I am just doing what they tell to do" After about a 60 to 80 minute wait, the officer who took all of my personal items returned and gave it all back to me. I once again asked respectfully asked what this was all about and I was once again told, and I quote again " I don't know , I'm just doing what they tell me to do". Another officer then appeared, told me to gather all of my belongings and then escorted me to the now deserted baggage claim area where my bags were still taking solo trips around the carousel. The officer asked me to pick up my bags and bring them over to an inspection table where he proceeded to open and inspect all of the contents. I once asked what this was all about and was told yet again " I don't know, I am only doing what they tell me to do". I couldn't help but think that during the Nuremberg Trials many of the defendants when asked about their parts in the burning of the Jews said something to the effect of.. "I was only following orders" ( doing what THEY told me to do). Needless to say, I DID write to the TSA and asked to have my name removed from this "watch list" which I later found out I was on AFTER this episode. I received a polite letter which basically told me that they could neither confirm nor deny that a) a list existed, and B) that my name was removed or not and c) that I would not be subject to extra special treatment later on if I continued to travel by plane. I, as one who was detained, can tell you it is extremely unnerving, especially when no one will tell you why. As a loyal, extremely patriotic NATIVE American who served in the armed forces, I can also tell that I object vehemently to being treated this way. I am all for security and safety but in the words of Benjamin Franklin, a wise and patriotic American, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Give me back my privacy, stop watching me with cameras, and tracking my movements around the web, stop looking into my bank accounts and financial transactions, stop listening in on my cell phone calls and sniffing my emails and online chats with friends local and abroad. I love America, I love my city, my neighborhood, I love all that this country stands for and has given to me and to everyone else who has benefited from the freedoms and opportunities it has presented. I would not want to live anywhere else but here. It is my home and I am proud to be an American. But I am not proud to see what we are becoming, a police state. I would gladly suffer a little insecurity to know that the liberties and the basic right to privacy I was born with and which are now being slowly stripped away from me, are returned to me and all my fellow Americans, as is our basic right under the Constitution. If it means I have to give it all up and allow government intrusion into my life , just to have the illusion that I safer from acts of terrorism, then I don't what it it. Because the fact is I am no more safer then I was then the day they blew up my beloved WTC, and some of friends with it. I ride the subways every day, travel over bridges , walk through crowded train and subway terminals daily, and know that at ANY GIVEN moment, the worst could happen. I live with this reality all day, every day. So just give me back what was taken from me and let me take my chances.
God Bless America.

Posted By Robert Johnson on January 8, 2009, 5:16 PM

Why does the federal government consider its own citizens as the enemy? Is the government our servant or our master? If the government were really concerned about terrorists, there wouldn't be a PLO office open in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. government wouldn't be arming and training El Fatah terrorists trying to destroy Israel. Whose security is our government trying to protect? Why is there no redress against arbitrary and unwarranted decisions by TSA, Homeland Security, and FBI agents? What's next, strip searches at airport security checkpoints?

Posted By Daniel J. Vandeberg on January 8, 2009, 8:26 PM

I guess I've never understood the connection between the attackers of 9/11 and their foreign nationality....the need to invade the privacy of US citizens.

It seems the logic is this:

Foreign nationals staged a terrorist attacks. None of them are US citizens.

Ergo, we need to study intensively the travel and purchase patterns of...wait for it...US citizens.

Am I missing something?

Posted By Zane Safrit on January 8, 2009, 9:31 PM

Have any of you ever been out for a walk with your dog?
Sure, its easy to go without a leash or a doo-bag when you live in the country with many acres of 'freedom.' But when you consider the population and congestion in larger towns and cities, consider the amount of 'waste' that could be produced by everyone's dogs!
The same is true for our(as in the world)population. It has grown exponentially, and has become extremely 'accessible' and 'coordinated' with travel and all forms of communication.
So it must be plausible that 'freedom' is not bought with taxes alone.
How do we move to a place of comfort in light of this?"

Posted By Karin on January 8, 2009, 9:42 PM

Actually, I wish these records existed back to at least 1492. It would make it so much easier for frequent traveling professionals (especially travel writers) to keep track of their comings and goings. On which of my eight trips to London, for example, did I stay at the Park Lane and fly on BA, etc. etc.? Yes, Big Brother needs to morph into Big Nanny and let those of us who work for a living do so.

Posted By aztec69 on January 8, 2009, 10:34 PM

"I have no problem with the government and airlines taking these and other details in attempting to track potential terrorists. There is no absolute right to travel on a highway or travel in an airplane. The government has a right to regulate and attempt to provide for safety in all. I have no secrets from the government. In rare instances people who work in organizations will sometimes illegally use such information. That is part of the risk of this wonderful modern world we live in. Roy Hanson.

Posted By Roy Hanson on December 29, 2008, 2:34 PM"

Why don't you just let the government manage your pocket book and decide what you to spend on you if you have such trust in current and future administrations.

Posted By Max Headroom on January 8, 2009, 11:36 PM

Let's look at the numbers and perform some simple calculations. You're more likely to die due to smoking than in a terrorist incident by a factor of 1290 to 1.

You're more likely to die due to "poor diet and physical inactivity" than terrorism by a factor of 1240 to 1.

Auto accidents vs. terror? How about 85 to 1.

Incident involving firearms? More likely than a terror death by a 94 to 1.

So let's ask a simple question. Would you be willing to allow the government to engage in torture and warrantless surveillance/searches in order to end deaths which relate to abuse of firearms? How about deaths in auto accidents?

Posted By Voice Of America on January 9, 2009, 1:40 AM

To all the people who think that it's O.K. for the government to have been granted such sweeping authority to be keeping tabs on the activities of American citizens at all, don't you see that it is only happening because YOU are allowing it? The government is supposed to be comprised of "civil servants" who work for us, the citizens. But so many have become so complaciant and somehow fearful of them, they have taken power they never should have had and are now behaving like tyrants and exercising more and more needless control over us. And the majority of the public just lets them restrict and regulate us more and more and without question or resistance. Pretty soon, this so-called Democracy will unfortunaty no longer be a free society. People who say they have "nothing to hide" may well feel that way, which is their prerogative if they wish to have their every move monitored and regulated by the government. But there is no reason to encourage or allow the government to have such power as to do this to all citizens, with or without "something to hide". The Consitution says that a person is presumed innocent unitl proven guilty. However, in reality, everyone is now treated as if they are automatically guilty and must prove that they are not. Why am I writing this? A few might listen, most won't, and so we move closer and closer every day to a REAL police state.
Besides, all this started as a result of 9-11 and as far as I know, the American Public at large has never been blamed for the tradgedy anyway. I don't believe that the average traveller, national or international is such a threat to "National Security" that there is any legitimate call for keeping tabs on our personal travels.

Posted By Kathy M on January 9, 2009, 2:52 AM

Sean - thanks for a great article that I'd like to post on my immigration blog. I've had many clients in 12 years of immigration practice that are repeatedly stopped on returning to the US. It is next to impossible to get their names cleared, despite DHS claiming to have a procedure to resolve grievances.

Posted By Elaine martin on January 9, 2009, 11:58 AM

The intrusive examinations are part of a wide-ranging conspiracy to exert more government control over citizens.

"National security" is just an excuse to justify our transformation from citizens in a democracy to subjects in a fascist system. This excuse was used in Nazi Germany in the 1930s to justify the progressive elimination of citizens' rights.

Although this is mostly a Republican goal, the Democrats share this vision, and have done nothing to stop it. This is one of the reasons I no longer vote for either of these corporate-financed parties.

Posted By Alan H. on January 9, 2009, 12:51 PM

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.-Benjamin Franklin

Posted By iAMerica on January 9, 2009, 1:36 PM

For those that say, "Let them take my information, I have nothing to hide" I suggest you look up the famous poem by Martin Niemoller (it begins "First they came") and think about the implications for a minute or two.

Posted By Batman on January 9, 2009, 2:28 PM

I saw the same interview on 60 minutes and was shocked at the abject lack of common sense involved at the TSA level. When asked about the 80 year-old woman in a wheelchair we've all seen before have to take her shoes off, the head of the TSA said, [paraphrased] 'It's possible that al Quaeda has used people like this before - what's to say they haven't?' That's not a valid point, in my opinion. That just feeds paranoia and gives the TSA an excuse to do what they want without any check or balance.

Airport security can be as equal a catalyst to 'road rage' as heavy traffic. By the time we're finished taking off our belts, shoes, loose change, cell phones, laptops - and putting them into separate bins, the TSA has the gall to ask why passengers get angry, why they treat the TSA often with hostility.

I lost a camera going through security once; either I forgot it in its separate bin or someone walked off with it. I'd like to see the garage sale the TSA could have with all of our stuff!

We all want to be safe, and we all (republicans and democrats) support an efficient security system. But efficiency should be a mandate, and citizens must be treated with empathy and respect.

Sometimes the 80 year-old woman in a wheelchair is simply someone's grandmother trying to get on a plane, and not a member of al Quaeda.

Posted By Mike on January 9, 2009, 2:28 PM

I saw the same interview on 60 minutes and was shocked at the abject lack of common sense involved at the TSA level. When asked about the 80 year-old woman in a wheelchair we've all seen before have to take her shoes off, the head of the TSA said, [paraphrased] 'It's possible that al Quaeda has used people like this before - what's to say they haven't?' That's not a valid point, in my opinion. That just feeds paranoia and gives the TSA an excuse to do what they want without any check or balance.

Airport security can be as equal a catalyst to 'road rage' as heavy traffic. By the time we're finished taking off our belts, shoes, loose change, cell phones, laptops - and putting them into separate bins, the TSA has the gall to ask why passengers get angry, why they treat the TSA often with hostility.

I lost a camera going through security once; either I forgot it in its separate bin or someone walked off with it. I'd like to see the garage sale the TSA could have with all of our stuff!

We all want to be safe, and we all (republicans and democrats) support an efficient security system. But efficiency should be a mandate, and citizens must be treated with empathy and respect.

Sometimes the 80 year-old woman in a wheelchair is simply someone's grandmother trying to get on a plane, and not a member of al Quaeda.

Posted By Mike on January 9, 2009, 5:05 PM

The only things done after 9/11 that are of any importance are: locking the cabin doors, and if the aircraft is hijacked, the pilot must get it landed safely immediately.

Safer containers to store baggage in the aircraft? Too expensive, not worth it to the airlines.

Better training for airport security employees? Not worth it, they are uneducated and again, not worth it to the airlines.

Instead, what do they do, they make you take your shoes off and throw out completely safe items like your toothpaste and or a can of food. Think this makes you safer? No. Instead of focusing on real threats, airport security is taught to enforce ridiculous rules without ever being allowed to think. So while you're throwing out your stuff, or they're checking if you have your mouthwash in a container over 100ml, the bad guys could have an easier time getting through with something else. (Why this hasn't happened recently is another discussion. Why the whole liquid thing is a complete crock is also another. Enough to say that the threat is about the same as the plane hitting Santa's sled).

It's time people demand real security, and enough of these farces.

Posted By jan on January 9, 2009, 9:38 PM

Funny that they use our tax dollars in this way, but security at airports are still undertrained or lax. I am a vet and on several occasions - stateside and international - I did not realize that a syringe or blade (in a foil wrapper) had accidently fallen into my briefcase. Once I discovered them, after reaching my destination, I disposed of them. Makes me wonder - not allowing fingernail clippers, but surgical blades and needles are ok. Perhaps there is a better way to protect our country, other than counting the number of times I have visited friends in other countries.

Posted By Dr. Sabra Lucas on January 10, 2009, 7:04 PM

well, i guess all we can do is have as much fun with this as you can... ill buy my plane tickets through proxies, and on customs forms i'll say i was attending masturbation festivals in switzerland or something.

Posted By justin on January 11, 2009, 10:45 AM

My husband, and I cruise once or twice a year.I hope the security and the information on my husband and myself are checked and double checked,along with everyone getting on the ship!

Posted By Evelyn Olson on January 11, 2009, 1:01 PM

Even if they have all this information, the TSA is very lax in their search as I discovered on my recent trip overseas. The TSA agent was sarcastic because I had a shampoo bottle,however , on my return I discovered a SWISSARMY knife, that had gone through security at the SFO , JFK, Istambul and local airports in Turkey and no one detected it at any one of these airports. Shame on the TSA for the high taxes we pay for this lousy security

Posted By suneel on January 12, 2009, 3:01 AM

"On the other hand, some people may find it reassuring that the government is using technology to keep our borders safe."

But that's the whole point - are they actually providing any positive, demonstrable benefit by doing this or is it simply a massively expensive and time-consuming piece of theatre leading to the collection of a database of information with massive potential to be misused? I know it's oft-repeated but this sort of 'security' would not have caught the Unabomber, the 9/11 crew, the guys who bombed Madrid and London, etc. Until I see evidence that it's actually effective in any way I can only see it as a highly obstructive and annoying waste of taxpayers money and time. The unbelievably large number of false positives arising from faulty methodology alone should be enough to have the entire project scrapped.

Posted By Cannonball Jones on January 12, 2009, 9:15 AM

Dear Sir

If the government is worried about terrorism why don't they employ more people to work in those fields we are scattered too thin around the globe we should worry about our own back yard not the worlds.

anonymous

Posted By julie on January 12, 2009, 9:40 AM

> "Officials use the information to prevent terrorism, acts of organized crime, and other illegal activity".

And to monitor peace activists, tax protesters, or anyone else out of favor with the regime.

Posted By Big Joe on January 12, 2009, 2:05 PM

From a blog about the amount of information collected by certain agencies, and the reasons as to why, the responses generated are mind boggling.

I am NOT a US citizen, I am a South African citizen. We too have a very progressive constitution. We too have freedoms and rights. Yet it is important to note that NO RIGHT IS ABSOLUTE, except the right to life. If you in exercising your rights, infringe upon my right to LIFE, then your rights become secondary to my rights. No matter the country you live in, this is an immutable fact.

The very people who are complaining about the amount of information being collected about them, probably have no idea that every single commercial concern that uses IT is collecting an extremely comprehensive database on them, and can analyse that information to an n-th degree. If you can't live with that - become a hermit in the mountains.

If a government agency can, through analyses of this very information, protect my right to LIFE, then I should be grateful. The fact that they collect too much information is not a reflection on the need to do so, but rather a reflection on the capability of being able to perform said analysis.

In South Africa, every resident (not just citizens) has to have an "identity book", soon to be replaced by a smart card type identity card. The word idnetity here is however a misnomer. It is actually a verification of identity token. It is used by banks to verify your identity. It is used by government departments to verify your identity. It is used by employers to verify your identity. It is is used at voting stations to verify your identity. It does not not however, reduce any of my freedoms granted to me by the constitution. Why US citizens should feel intimidated by the idea of an indentity card is beyond me. The use of an indentity card with a unique number (isn't that what a social security number is in any case?) will prevent honest unassuming citizens like Robert Johnson being misidentified, and subject to unnecessary harrasment.

I agree, certain personnel at some airports or border points are not able to think beyond the box, or maybe are not allowed to think beyond the box. Some personnel overstep certain boundaries. Some of those personnel allow their prejudices to interfere with their mandated and delegated discretionary decisions. That is however human nature. It is not indictative of a conspiracy theory that all governments are out to be BIG BROTHER.

I live in a country that unfortunately has a very high crime rate. The implementation of CCTV in not only city areas, but also in suburban areas has done quite a bit to reduce crime in those areas, or at least lead to some apprehensions of criminals. Does it mean that I am being monitored and followed? Get real. For that to be a reality, there would have to be at least one, if not six (allowing for shift changes and holidays etc) people assigned to me and me alone. And so on for every other law abiding citizen. And who would watch the watchers?

Technology in the information era is here to stay. Of course government will use it the same as any large commercial organisation will use it. Of course you won't have rocket scientists maintaining it. Governments the world over have never been known for paying salaries that high. The very good ones get snapped up by large commercial organisations.

Stop complaining, and get a life. The freedoms that every US Citizen takes for granted, and whinges about if he or she thinks might be slightly under attack, are far greater than almost any other country in the world. Even if 25% of your fredoms were suddenly taken away, you would still have 200% more than 75% of the rest of the world.

To finish my diatribe..."if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear". These are the most sensible words in this entire blog. Rather a false positive, than a dead positive. The point of TSA questions are not the answers to the questions. It is about the body language of the respondent. Any first year psychology student will confirm that. If you don't like the system and how it works, then find out about the system, how it works, and WHY it works. Then, and only then, are you qualified enough to make a rational argument against the system.

Posted By Chris on January 13, 2009, 7:39 AM

I hate it when people say "I do nothing illegal and have nothing to hide". The danger does not come from the government spying on Grandma to get her apple pie recipe. The danger comes from the government using information they collect to blackmail people. Here is an example:

I am the senator of lets say...Illinois. I am cheating on my wife. I have made several calls to my mistress and once flew to see her in California (I told my wife I was in Washington DC.)

I am going to vote against a bailout of the automakers. Turns out the bailout is one vote shy of passing. A crafty senator of lets say...New York decides she will use the information they gathered (legally now) and blackmail me into voting for the bailout. I change my vote.

Now my personally unethical actions cost this country $35 billion. Had they not collected this information about my phone and travel records they would have never had the information to blackmail me. See the danger?

Now imagine I am the editor or the New York Times and am about to publish an article critical of the President. Oh yeah, and I like prostitutes...

Posted By Jeff on January 13, 2009, 3:28 PM

People who believe gov't is good need to see the movie Freedom to Fascism and then watch the interview that Aaron Russo had regarding his friendship with Nick Rockefeller. It gives some food for thought regarding all of these "searches" for our own good. Fact of the matter is that the elite and powerful think we are a bunch of sheeple who need to be told what to do and how to do it....for our own good. You see, we need them (the gov't) to take care of us. At the very least you could show a little gratitude when all of your freedoms are stripped from you--all done to protect you.

Posted By Bear on January 13, 2009, 7:57 PM

DHS & TSA continue to be the embarrassment that every one jokes about them being. They routinely violate innocent people's rights every day. Their language is non-sensical, their procedures are routinely mocked on SNL & other TV shows (what if a few people take 2.5 ounces of liquid & combine them once on the plane?). The taking off of shoes is still forced & still a waste of time. We hear routinely that tests of screening allow knives, guns, & weapons through to this day.

And why this giant overreaction? Because a bunch of morons at the very highest level of government, yes, him, the worst president in the history of history, ignored every piece of information presented to them. This would have happened regardless of what acronym was carved in the sign outside the intelligence agency & everyone knows it. Those guys were just plain stupid. They missed it. They missed it all. It was their fault for missing it. They ought to have been fired. Those not fired ought to have resigned. Including the worst president in history.

The icing on the cake is that the worst president in history who was for smaller government & less spending went ahead & increased government & did it on his credit card.

Posted By Jason Sjöbeck on January 14, 2009, 1:04 AM

Some of the comments left here and the author's breezy comments about data collection are unbelievable. If the government that was doing this was redacted from the article and comments, one would think this was committed by Russia, China, or some other totalitarian regime that feared its populace. One would also think that the comments that supported such behaviour were the work of apologists, "party members", and other elites that had a vested interest in perpetuating the regime.

I am all for patriotism and fully support intelligence gathering on the "bad guys". However, the DHS method of intel gathering is not effective, but instead results in information overload and inefficient allocation of resources across a broader population than is proved to commit terrorist acts.

All of you who think this is a good idea because it keeps you safe, I have news for you, you are just as at risk. You do realise that a sharpened credit card is a more viable weapon than tweezers or tubes of toothpaste or shampoo? Ask any special ops pro and they will tell you it is quite easy for a determined individual to modify ordinary objects into weapons.

In that case, rather than banning lots of stuff, instead secure the cockpit, encourage people to pull a flight 93 on hijackers with no legal reprisals, and pour all the wasted money into real foreign and domestic intel gathering. Anything else is just a waste of your tax dollars and a violation of your rights as a US citizen.

Posted By Santa on January 17, 2009, 11:12 AM

an American living in Paris - white caucasion in his seventies - having worked for a national security agency and known how ineffective and useless these proceedures were -
- I used to take about 3 trips a year to the S/E USA
when the "homeland" nonsense started I put up with it twice - once in Atlanta and once in Miami -
the personnel was clearly scraped from the bottom of some list of political friends - some spoke but little english - and they were almost incredibly aggresive and rude - socially hostile - didnt like passengers with a Vuitton bag etc.
the solution is to tell the airline you want a wheel chair - that at least obviates long queues -
But - after two experiences - I stopped traveling there during the entire remainder of the Bush admin -
I wonder if the drop in tourist travel to US during this period has been measured -

Posted By clarkE Richard on January 20, 2009, 8:28 PM

I have returned from Iraq (non-military) 4 times in one year to Dulles International and did not get stopped. I returned from Germany a year ago and walked right through. I am a an American citizen and I have not seen the draconian measures described in this article. BTW, I welcome the security at the airports. They should Xray bags, use explosives detection, and perform random searches. I do some business travel now, and I really dont care if some guy goes through my bag or pats me down. Because I have nothing to hide, and hopefully, they find the guy who is hiding something! If someone has a problems with security measures at airports after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 my advice to them is to take Greyhound.

Posted By Dennis D on January 21, 2009, 9:13 AM

I find it amazing how quickly citizens of this country give up the freedoms that thousands of men and women have died to protect. I find it disgusting and reprehensible.

These people who do not value our American freedoms do not deserve to live in this country. You are NOT patriots and are a poor excuse for a citizen.

One of our founding fathers stated the following:

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin

If you are so scared of the world and need the government to "protect" you from it, you are a child, an invalid, a coward. Yes you are a coward if you accept the intrusion upon liberty.

Posted By Mike on January 22, 2009, 4:37 PM

So much to say (and so much to read but one has only so much time) but I have to comment on this sentence:
"There is no absolute right to travel on a highway or travel in an airplane. " Posted By Roy Hanson on December 29, 2008, 2:34 PM

In fact, I think since Americans pay for thier highways (taxes) THAT alone gives them a right to travel on them.

Now, flying, whole different issue but someone said something that really hit home: "[...]does the government think that anyone, anyone, would use their real name, DOB, address etc. if they were a terrorist or wanting to do harm. Are they really that dumb or doing busy work which mean nothing but spying on honest people."
Posted By DT on December 29, 2008, 2:11 PM"

P.S. SO TRUE! Not to mention wasting taxpayers money!

Posted By Amy on January 23, 2009, 1:21 PM

Why do they need all of this information? They said they needed it after 9/11 but they have been collecting it long before! What happens if you are flagged I have heard horror stories that people cannot get off of the list once your on... This seems a little like looking over the shoulder of your own people rather then finding suspected terrorist! Do we really need Big Brother? and who watches them?

I think that people should be confronted if there is suspicion not just information collected on them...

Posted By Knut on January 23, 2009, 1:21 PM

I applaud the efforts to keep dangerous weapons and explosives off of the airplanes. However, if the goal is to keep hijackers off the planes, the we should put armed,uniformed Marines on the airplanes in the jumpseat just outside the cabin door.

Posted By Wayne Rives on January 23, 2009, 1:37 PM

There is a plethora of security measures that could be taken, but the most streamlined would be an identity card that does not show any personal information, but can quickly verify that the person using the card is, in fact, the owner of the card. It should contain a swipe bar with the following info: a passport type photo (which would show on the front of the card), that person's fingerprints, blood type or DNA info and the eye identification that is already in use in some security areas. This may sound like Big Brother on steroids, but it would be almost impossible to foil. And if a person has NOTHING to hide, there should be no problem. That does NOT make me a coward for thinking we need foolproof security. It is as much economic as anything else. Terrorism is EXTREMELY costly, not just in human loss, but also infrastructure and economic collapse. Putting a dollar amount on Sept. 11th seems to trivialize the loss of life, but mark my words, another attack will be even more devastating and more demoralizing than the first.

Posted By Caroll on January 23, 2009, 1:37 PM

just a few days ago a flight from mexico city to seatec airport was rerouted to portland or because of fog. when the plane landed at pdx the passingers mostly americans were told they could not get of the plane because there was not enought coustoms people to do the job. they were told they had a chose go back to mexico city or get of the plane and get arrested,so the plane had to go back to mexico. it is getting bad when you can not get back into your own country ,because not enought people on the job.

Posted By dennis on January 23, 2009, 1:39 PM

I understand that "giving up" the right to privacy is giving up a right you have as an American citizen. But there are people in this world who do not care about our rights, and will do anything they can to take them away from us. We all expect the government to do something about these people, so we never have to experience an event like those that happened on September 11th 2001 as long as we or our children's children live. The government does not have the ability, as far as we know, to read our minds, so other measures MUST be taken. If you're not willing, as a law abiding American citizen to work with the people you expect to protect you, then how are you any better than those willing to be lenient enough to almost give away a right of privacy? remember and NEVER forget, we ONLY have the rights we have because people have worked with the government to protect those rights. if you are unwilling to work with the government, by allowing the people who allow you to have your rights do what is necessary to protect you, then maybe you should just go to Pakistan where you could get killed for even saying the word Rights. Or get acid thrown in your face as a woman attending school. People have died for your rights, yes. But those rights are not guaranteed to us tomorrow. Ben Franklin is not alive anymore. Do not quote those who have no say in today's politics. there are terrorists who wish to murder every American alive. I find you to be a coward, to call those people who are willing to do anything in their power to stop those willing to do anything to stop america from being the greatest country in the world.

Posted By Steve Berg on January 23, 2009, 2:04 PM

Of course! Let's stir up the paranoia factor! Whether we like it or not, the U.S. government will take whatever measures they feel are pertinent to anti-terrorist security. One of the problems is TSA - repeatedly proven inept and lacking in common sense. Perhaps a viable alternative is to assign military personnel as was done after 9/11, and they did a very nice job overall. This could give some returning troops a safe and less stressful environment than Iraq or Afghanistan.

Posted By GUNNY on January 23, 2009, 2:08 PM

The entire Dept. of Homeland Security should be abolished. It is a waste of time and taxpayer money, and their actions infringe on our constitutional rights. I mean c'mon - remove our shoes?!? These people are not only imbeciles, but enemies of freedom as well.

Posted By Aaron in Seattle on January 23, 2009, 2:45 PM

My big problem with security is the careless manner my BiPap machine is treated.
This machine is absolutly required for my health, but the screeners tend to be careless handling it.
Asking them to be carefull will only be ignored if I am lucky. When I complained to a supervisor (politely but firm), I was threatened with arrest.

Posted By T.A. hendrickson on January 23, 2009, 3:13 PM

Its not that hard to fake an IP address via IP Clone
etc.I live in USA but my IP will make it look like I live in Venezuela. So capturing an IP address is not gonna help to locate a potential terrorist.

Posted By Vlad on January 23, 2009, 3:19 PM

i go to canada once a year or so, and twice i've forgotten my passport. and after only a brief wait, i've been let in and hardly bothered on the way back to the states. and, get this, i have had a name change which they know about and don't hassle me over.
border guards are humorless for the most part, but they have the data, i was able to pass to and from the US without much trouble. thanks, porous borders!

Posted By fatt on January 23, 2009, 3:33 PM

I travel between US and India quite frequently. I admire the US govt for preventing a terrorist strike post 9/11. They have not taken anything for granted, spent a lot of money in wars, although I only support Afgan war and also made security tight at airports. In India on the other hand, the airport security has always been tight even pre 9/11, every passenger must be patted down and each hand bag is searched. Hence there have been no air related incidents in India with flights originating in India. However there have been so many terrorist attacks that even the govt. does not have a clue at times as to where they are coming from. I guess every govt has its own way of dealing with terror. Initially I used to take fingerprinting of aliens in US with a grain of salt but now I do not harbor any ill. Protecting innocent civilians must be priority no 1. Bottom line is some of you fail to see that there has been no terrorist attacks since 9/11.

Posted By ADJ on January 23, 2009, 4:11 PM

I traveled quite often to Europe as an employee of Airline and as private passenger. The information for ticket purchase collected by airlines is uniformed for specialized ticketing applications worldwide and information traveled on isolated and airline specific networks. The PNR record is necessary to identify passenger and luggage while in transfer. Using PNR is easy to get information on traveler, sometimes up to six month in advance. The origination point, transfer points, seat assignment, preferred meals, etc. Nobody had any problem with providing that type of information. It is not available for dissemination and airlines guarding this information with utmost security.
With DHS and TSA annoying dog and pony show on security and the intimidation of honest people makes us less secured. Throwing large numbers of unmotivated and unskilled bodies at the problem can not plug the holes at the points of departure and entry. Airport in Tel-Aviv does not have an army of security personnel, but it is the most secured airport in the world. They doing something right. May it is time to learn from the best.
Nowadays everybody have to be concerned with information traveled via Internet. With record numbers of breaches of financial institutions, government and military, it is just a matter of time when your records will be compromised.
Any information you sent via internet is available for retrievals. The question is who will retrieve this information and how it will be used. When you purchase a ticket from the website the record containing ID and IP addresses are automatically saved. This is just how internet works. It is convenient and fast to purchase ticket on line. In process you will leave an e-trail behind. The company from whom you purchased the ticket will send you a confirmation message with your itinerary. Again it is your e-trail.
Here is a sample of e-mail header:
>>>Subject: UPS Ship Notification, Tracking Number
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:47:00 -0500 (EST)
Return-Path:
Delivered-To: com@mail.com
X-Ob-Received: from unknown (192.168.10.41) by 66.11.168.192.in-addr.arpa; 23 Jan 2009 00:47:10 -0000
Received: from localhost (41.10.168.192.in-addr.arpa [192.168.10.41]) by .us4.outblaze.com (Postfix) with ESMTP for com"@mail.com>; Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:47:10 +0000 (GMT)
X-Ob-Received: from unknown (192.168.9.25) by as2-5.us4.outblaze.com; 23 Jan 2009 00:47:09 -0000
Received: from ups.com (.ups.com [153.2.234.138]) by us4.outblaze.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2F77 for ; Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:47:03 +0000 (GMT)
Received: from ([153.2.129.121]) by .ups.com with ESMTP id KP-; Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:47:00 -0500
Reply-To: auto-notify@ups.com
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----NextPart_"
Message-Id:
I am using my travel agent for my travel needs. Just pickup the phone (not a mobile for financial transactions) make a reservation (their secure Airline application) and I am done.
Old fashion way? What about DHS and TSA? Since I was a kid I liked circus in town.

Posted By WZ on January 23, 2009, 4:21 PM

My ISP (Verizon), like many others, uses dynamic IP addressing. Every time any user with such an ISP logs onto the Internet, they get a new IP address. The IP address I have now will probably be used by a dozen people tomorrow, and could have been used a dozen other people yesterday. I can only hope that anyone trying to use IP addresses in these records for anything useful can recognize the blocks of addresses used for dynamically assigned IP addresses, and therefore know that the IP address only indicates that Verizon is my ISP - and little if anything else.

Posted By John on January 27, 2009, 2:42 AM

An earlier posting suggested "get the biographical information corrected . . ." Has he ever tried!!! With a common last name, Martin, I often can not check in online and even though one airline agent gave me the address to "try" to get it changed, she said she had NEVER heard of anyone being successful! We have encountered MANY pleasant, helpful TSA workers, but when you have inadequately trained, barely above minimum wage personnel with probably far less education than those they are screening, doing the job . . . you wonder there are problems?

Posted By BAM on January 27, 2009, 11:03 AM

This is not surprising, considering we are entering Orwell's 1984. I work for the Federal Government, this is in keeping with tracking every citizen, their habits, spending patterns, travels. Think about it, if the Government spent a much time tracking financial crimes on the large scale (like SEC really doing its job) we would be much safer and secure. Instead the Government goes tracks petty information of native born citizens. I hope the current administration curbs the absurdities of the system, but I have my doubts.

Posted By Jim on January 27, 2009, 5:26 PM

It sounds as if some of you would feel better with no security at the airports. Perhaps they should have seperate flights for those who don't mind or prefer security procedures and for those who object to them. I know nothing is 100% but I still think I'd choose to fly with security.

Posted By Anne on January 31, 2009, 11:34 PM

good security is needed for safe traveling !
i want to be safe as possible while traveling around the world to all these countries and cities !

Posted By flight attendant on February 16, 2009, 11:46 AM

I think things are far worse than people imagine. And this site is quite creative. As of this spring, Customs and Border Protection will require anyone traveling by private airplane across our borders inbound or outbound to register for government permission via the internet. This means my fishing trips to Canada with my family will have to be registered with the government, and I will have to wait for the government to give me permission to leave the country with my wife and 8 year old. The rationale for requiring an "exit visa" is that perhaps, unknown to me, my wife and son may be on a government "no fly" list.

Then after this outrage became law, the TSA has proposed that owners/operators of private aircraft (ie those weighing more than my Chevy K2500 pickup truck) be required to pay someone that the TSA names to get permission to operate their private aircraft, provide the TSA with a passenger manifest and get permission to fly from Detroit to Cleveland before they could board the plane. Pilots fingerprinted and "cleared." In other words, an internal travel clearance before every trip which means government permission to fly with your friends and family for every flight.

This is not security. This is tyranny. If you think they will stop at aircraft (read the TSA's Large Aircraft Security Program NPRM 0--LASP) then guess again. They will have set up a database system in hand, and eventually, they will have the capability to montor boats, trucks and even passenger cars. Imagine the TSA having access to your I-pass open road tolling transponder codes and data.

We need to be alert to the already well described dangers to our nation and our republic, lest the terrorists succeed in destroying our nation or convert it into the USSA.

Posted By John Aopa on February 27, 2009, 1:55 AM

I wonder how many americans are not able to check in on line!!! Thousands, millions. This may seem to some like a minor inconvience for the price of security but I wonder how much manpower is being spent on matters which are not a serious security threat. Manpower which could be used for more serious matters. Why are people with common names considered a security risk? I have been told I can't check in on line because the birthdate on my drivers license doesn't match the birthdate the airline is given. I have filed a complaint with homeland security but it looks like I won't be hearing from them anytime soon. When I emailed them to check on the status of my complaint, I was told to never email them again. More wasted manpower for something seemily so simple. This article and blog has opened my eyes to way too many issues!!!

Posted By Laurie on March 11, 2009, 7:49 AM

I have read many article and watched many news magazines and documentaries about the volume of information gathered on all of us. I might be willing to tolerate this level of intrusion if government can show just one instance of this leading to a legitimate detention or arrest. What i have seen/read time after time is various agencies
having the information yet failing to act or unable to process the huge volume of data.

Posted By scott on March 19, 2009, 11:57 PM

I work for the DHS and I gotta tell you that while things still need improvement, they are nowhere near as bad as they used to be. Give the department a little more time.

Posted By Mark Twain on March 24, 2009, 1:02 PM

The most recent time that I flew to the US -- December 2008, to visit family for Christmas -- the whole US security measures set up in Munich aiport, creating endless lines, nearly made me break into a rage (and I'm a pretty calm person).
I had to walk around for a bit to chill out, lest they take me for a security hazard.

How unhuman will they get? If nothing else, the endless questions, pat downs, bag inspections and carry-on luggage restrictions are offensive, and a waste of time and money.

Posted By Magdalena on March 26, 2009, 6:40 PM

Sean do these records contain information about just air travel or can I get records of trips taken by land too? I need a record of my trips to canada from the US. I crossed the border by car from buffalo but I don't know where to get that information from. Did you records have land travel records too or not? I've sent a request to CBP but they just have air travel records....

Posted By sammy on April 1, 2009, 4:46 PM

Those who would give up liberty for safety, deserve neither. (Ben Franklin?)

Posted By Dave on May 5, 2009, 10:20 AM

Of the people who have posted here, it's really easy to see who has taken college level Psychology and Political Theory classes, and who clearly has not...

Everything--absolutely EVERYthing--the government does in the name of 'public safety' or 'homeland security' is a farce. Period. Placating the masses is a fundamental herd-control tactic that has been around as long as politics and government. Just like with cattle and all other livestock, if you keep the people fat, dumb, and happy, they'll always pull your plow...

Create the illusion of safety and the people will believe they're safe. As long as Monday Night Football and March Madness go on as scheduled, the ignorant people will think they're safe.

Create the illusion of 'democracy' and without even bothering to learn what the term means, the people in their ignorance will cheer "Democracy!" in unison. (In case you are one of the people who haven't taken any political theory classes, the United States is NOT a democracy, it's a Constitutional Republic. Now, stop believing everything you read and go look it up for yourself. A copy&paste from the CIA factbook: the United States of America is a "Constitution-based federal republic")

Create the illusion of a government 'by the people' by allowing the people to push some buttons or fill out a ballot, and the people won't even bother to ask what an electoral college IS, much less bother to find out what it actually does, or how it strips the voters of any real voice. "Aint got no time to worry 'bout that confusin stuff... American Idol is on!" (A pathetic sidenote: in 2004, more people voted on American Idol than in the presidential election. Yay America! We're #1!!!...)

You want safety? Educate yourself. The real dangers we face aren't from nameless, faceless enemies that we as a population are conditioned to rally against in the name of 'national unity' or patriotism'. (In the 30's it was the Nazis, in the 50's it was the Communists, in the 80's it was the drug war, now it's the 'War on Terror')

The real danger we face is the one we don't see. The real danger is our own ignorance. It is our inability to see that we've been duped into believing--truly believing--that the government is there to 'serve' us. Keep telling yourself that...

The government isn't concerned with protecting the people. It is concerned with protecting itself as a system and the people who run it. And that means protecting the people just enough to make them think they're safe. That means keeping the public fat, dumb, and happy enough to keep them from being motivated enough to want to change the system, in much the same way most employees only work hard enough to keep from being fired.

Lists made of your travel activities may seem innocent on the surface, and certainly to people who have nothing to hide (myself included) it probably seems like a minor inconvenience to give up one tiny slice of freedom to purchase safety. But look back through history and you'll see there is a larger pattern that effects more than just your individual vacation: sacrificing rights NEVER actually buys you any real safety, only the ILLUSION of safety. And throughout history, once a government has taken a right away, they NEVER give it back. It has to be bought back with blood. And by any definition at all, nothing about that could ever be called "safe"...

but there's no time to think about that kind of scary stuff, the big game is about to start...

Posted By saint malakai on May 6, 2009, 11:50 AM

I think this is crazy, I am more amazed that the technology is available to track this kind of information, it is maybe a breach of privacy but it is a scary world we live in now so I don't have 2 many complaints.

Posted By Gavin @ Travel Adventure on May 13, 2009, 9:46 AM

Dave: Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.- Benjamin Franklin

Posted By Ibiza on November 22, 2009, 5:01 AM

How many airport/flights have been targets for terrorist attacks in New Zealand? Compare the security and boarding process for a US domestic flight to the New Zealand counterpart! There is absolutely no 'security' in New Zealand. Still there are no attacks that I know of!

Different thing: ever thought of what is going to happen next? The US wants (and already gets) personal information even before you board a flight to the US. Their idea was to get this information not just a few hours before entering the US but they actually thought (search for papers on this!) and calculated the cost of having the information sent to them TWO DAYS before traveling to the US. Ever been bumped off a plane or stranded on your way home? Well, make that a two day waiting period before you are allowed to book/enter a flight to the US.
All things that happend aside ... the 'terrorists' succeeded in making travel a major pain for some - if not all - people.

And most of this 'security' can still be worked around by printing your boarding pass at home. In a world where it's easier to see live video feeds from a Predator drone than DirectTV I guess this is something a 'terrorist' would be able to do.

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