Posted on 12/01/2006 12:51:17 PM PST by SmithL
The incoming Senate Judiciary chairman pledged greater scrutiny Friday of computerized government anti-terrorism screening after learning that millions of Americans who travel internationally have been assigned risk assessments over the last four years without their knowledge.
"Data banks like this are overdue for oversight," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who will take over Judiciary in January. "That is going to change in the new Congress."
The Associated Press reported Thursday that millions of Americans and foreigners crossing U.S. borders in the past four years have been assessed by the computerized Automated Targeting System, or ATS, designed to help pick out terrorists or criminals.
The travelers are not allowed to see or directly challenge these risk assessments, which the government intends to keep on file for 40 years. Under specific circumstances, some or all data in the system can be shared with state, local and foreign governments and even some private contractors.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Oh Boy! More Leaks!
Leaky Leahy is all over this!
The enemy realizes now that there really is a Santa Claus.
I wish that people with an ax to grind would stop leaking the existence of programs designed to catch or survey terrorists.
These outraged civil liberties people should be happy that everyone traveling by plane was surveyed, not just those from Arab/Muslim countries or traveling to and from suspicious areas.
I guess the outrage comes into play because all travelers were assigned a risk assessment score. Apparently this offends the sensibilities of the ACLU types because once you assign a higher risk score to someone, you will tend to increase surveillance of such people.
okay, you gotta love this reasoning.
I think we need oversight over leaks.
The last time Leahy leaked classified information only a couple of people got killed as a result. The next time it could be tens of thousands.
Communists crack me up. They always want "oversight" of EVERYTHING.
The travelers are not allowed to see or directly challenge these risk assessments, which the government intends to keep on file for 40 years. Under specific circumstances, some or all data in the system can be shared with state, local and foreign governments and even some private contractors.40 years is a long time to keep records that you can neither see nor challenge. Think about credit reports, stuff gets messed up on them all the time. In fact, I bet your credit report is one of the things use to assess you.
Why should the risk assessment scores be made public? Just so those with high risks scores will know they are being scrutinized? Wow, these communists are going to get some people killed.
As I read this article, all this is is a screening tool. It doesn't prevent travel, just is a heads up on who to watch.
As I read this article, all this is is a screening tool. It doesn't prevent travel, just is a heads up on who to watch.Could be. It's probably a good program given the current situation. But it still needs oversight. There's just too much potential for abuse. That's why the Constitution has checks and balances between the branches of government.
G.W. Bush's Attorney Generals have never been aggressive against Elected Members of Congress.
Leahy will get away with anything. We need an Andy Jackson and not a GW...
not terrorist rights per se but a chip at a one world law.
I don't see how asking for oversight by the US Congress moves us towards a "one world law". Instead of thinking about this in terms of something the Bush Administration is doing, think about some future administration that will still be doing it. Do you want a future Clinton administration to be doing this without oversight?
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