Report: TSA misleading on role on acquiring info

WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration misled the public about its role in obtaining personal information about 12 million airline passengers to test a new computerized system that screens for terrorists, according to a government investigation.

The report, released Friday by Richard Skinner, the Homeland Security Department's acting inspector general, said the agency misinformed individuals, the press and Congress in 2003 and 2004. It stopped short of saying the TSA lied.

"TSA officials made inaccurate statements regarding these transfers that undermined public trust in the agency," the report said. "These misstatements were apparently not meant to mischaracterize known facts. Instead, they were premised on an incomplete understanding of the underlying facts."

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said the agency took months to disclose its role in getting the data.

"The American public must know their personal information is well protected, or they will distrust the new systems we need to keep our nation safe," Lieberman said in a statement.

The report comes at a sensitive time for the TSA, which is using airline passenger data - which can include credit-card information, phone number and address - to test a computerized system for screening passengers, called Secure Flight.

Congress has said the agency can't proceed with Secure Flight unless the Government Accountability Office reports that the technology ensures privacy and that the data are protected. That report is due Monday.

The report concluded that the TSA was inconsistent in protecting passengers' privacy as it developed a passenger-prescreening system. It did acknowledge that the agency's environment for privacy has improved substantially.

TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield said the agency is committed to privacy of personal information.

"The core of our mission is preserving our freedoms, and that means doing the utmost to protect every American's privacy," Hatfield said.

The report cites several occasions where TSA officials made inaccurate statements about passenger data.

Just flew out of BWI this morning. The line at security for C pier extended all the way back to D pier. I walked down to B pier where I used my airline ID to cut in line. As an emplyee who is drug tested every 60 days and has a background check once a year, I feel we should be able to use a seperate line. Does it PO people who are waiting in line, to see an employee walk right up and get in front? Im sure it does. Will I stop doing it? No way. Maybe if enough people complain (which they should be doing, based on the C pier security line this morning)Maybe someone will wake up and realize that the system, while needed, is in dire need of restructuring..

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