Posted on 11/30/2006 3:52:48 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
WASHINGTON - For the past four years, without public notice, federal agents have assigned millions of Americans and other international travelers computer-generated scores assessing the risk they pose of being terrorists or criminals.
The travelers are not allowed to see or directly challenge these risk assessments. And the government intends to keep them on file for 40 years.
Earlier in November, the government disclosed the existence and details of the Automated Targeting System (ATS) for the first time in the Federal Register. Privacy and civil liberties lawyers, congressional aides and even law enforcement officers said they thought the ATS had been applied only to cargo.
The scores are assigned to people entering and leaving the United States after computers assess their travel records, including where they are from, how they paid for tickets, their motor vehicle records, past one-way travel, seating preference and what kind of meals they ordered.
The Homeland Security Department notice called it "one of the most advanced targeting systems in the world" and said U.S. ability to spot criminals and other security threats "would be critically impaired without access to this data."
Still, privacy advocates view ATS with alarm. "It's probably the most invasive system the government has yet deployed in terms of the number of people affected," David Sobel, a lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group devoted to electronic data issues, said in an interview.
A similar DHS data-mining project for domestic air travelers — now known as Secure Flight — caused a furor two years ago in Congress, which has barred its implementation until it can pass 10 tests for accuracy and privacy protection.
PROFILING!!!!
oh god no! not that!
I am a frequent business traveler. And I can tell you that every time I leave Quebec City, I get the full treatment....even an inside the pants check! My husband thought it was funny, since all three times, it was the same woman "checking".
If only someone could show me the list of 50 year old white women who have hijacked planes......
I wanna know my score!
I mean, shouldn't I have a right to know if I'm dangerous?
What kind of meals they ordered is a poor substitute for the one piece of data likely to identify terrorists.
I wonder what kind of rating one gets if one enters a plane screaming, "ALLAH, ALLAH, ALLAH!"
Well, the person who orders a pork chop wrapped in bacon is probably considered to be a less likely terrorist than similar individuals.
Go see: http://www.tsa.gov
And read all about what is happening with people being erroneously put on FBI Watch lists. I know. I was one of them and am now doing the prescribed process to get my name removed....it is a real PITA and creates inconveniences for travel.
Check it out.
I don't know... What about people ordering kosher meals?
I've read your postings. Trust me. You're dangerous.
Most of you have probably already seen it, but if you haven't, turn up the sound and visit: http://usawakeup.org/
GREAT link!!!!
This is dangerous. Here are government bureaucrats judging whether or not you are a criminal or a terrorist. Their decision is a secret record that you are not allowed to see or challenge. It will be kept for almost half a century.
Any American who does not think he is living in a totalitarian nation is living in a dream world.
Where is the ACLU when you need them?
What's dangerous is ACLU types like you wanting to hand over this country to terrorists who are actively plotting another 9/11.
Thank God (and Thank Bush) that this behind the scens profiling has gone on.
Let me remind you that there has NOT been any other attacks to our country since 9/11. Even though they've tried.
I hope Beluga caviar not on the list...;-)
Not so fast, omega man! What if they are tracking "halal" meals, which can be requested on most airlines?
All vegetarians and halal eaters are probably either eco-terrorists or islamo-terrorists, or at least, have bad B.O.
And on a transatlantic flight, that's terrorism in its most virulent form...
At least both sides of a trans-atlantic flight are familiar with the operation of a toilet. Trans-pacific can be a major olofactorical cultural test.
In PC-America, they probably get upgrades to first class!
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