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Airport Monitoring of Travellers via Blackberry

Posted by timothy on from the if-you-have-nussink-to-hide dept.

glhturbo writes "According to this article in Mass. High Tech, Massachusetts State Police stationed at Logan Airport will soon have access (via Blackberry handhelds) to "7 billion records" containing information on "nearly 98 percent of the U.S. population, including, for example, a person's prior residence and with whom he or she lived, criminal information, court filings, vehicles owned, and even restricted government data." The database is from a Massachusetts company, LocatePlus, started by a former policeman who was "on the waiting list for the FBI". Seems like a good tool, but major potential for abuse, and hopefully no false identifications."

7 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Is it wireless? by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Informative

    A: This service has zero info that you shouldn't have. It's all public records, the scary part of this service is that they seem to have most of the nation's public records about individuals assembled in an easy-to-query form.

    B: Since this company charges by the query, too many queries from a device will likely cause that device quickly be deauthorized by whomever's paying the bill.

  2. Re:A little scary by LostCluster · · Score: 2, Informative

    This kind of database is only as good as its input. If the public records of any given community are wrong, that mistake will flow into the database...

  3. You notice there's no "opt out" on their site..... by acadiel · · Score: 3, Informative

    You notice that there's no "opt out" anywhere on the locateplus.com website.


    At least some other database companies, such as lexis-nexis.com will let you at least opt out.

    I wonder how long before these private databases are mandated to respond to "opt out" requests.

  4. Re:Strong encryption? by incast · · Score: 2, Informative

    If it goes through the mobile data service of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (and I'm definitely guessing it does), then it's 3DES and it's FIPS-140 certified. It should be secure enough.

    Not to sound like a marketing drone, but more on the BlackBerry security model can be found at http://www.blackberry.net/solutions/government/sec urity.shtml

  5. Re:What if the devices are stolen by Arial+Sharon,+10pt. · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually, I know a guy that helped develop this system. I asked him this very question, and he said that they've had some very sophisticated biometric encryption produced so that only authorised personnel can use them.

    --
    Am I dead yet?
  6. Re:Just to be fair.... by fdiskne1 · · Score: 2, Informative
    I should get to know the same information about the people "screening" me.

    You can, but you have to pay for it. Go to the the database supplier's webpage and click the Privacy Policy at the bottom. I'm also including the opt-out information which I find disturbing. You will see:

    You cannot opt out of our having your information distributed by LocatePLUS.com. Public records, by law, must be available from the official public records office to anyone who requests them. Accordingly, because individuals cannot opt out of public records databases generally, we do not offer individuals the opportunity to opt out of our public records databases. In order for any database of public records to be useful, the databases must contain all of the information in the public records offices, and we do not remove or suppress any information that is both accurate and publicly available.

    Additionally, because we do not make any nonpublic information available to the general public, we do not offer individuals the opportunity to opt out of the nonpublic databases. Our databases are used by investigators, law enforcement agents and lawyers who are trying to locate criminals, debtors and other bad actors. Accordingly, it would defeat the purpose of our service if we gave these types of individuals the ability to opt out of being found.

    Companies that make nonpublic data available to the general public do offer opt outs, and, in the event that we ever make our nonpublic databases available to the general public, we will implement an opt out for individuals who request it in accordance with the IRSG principles.

    Access to nonpublic information that LocatePLUS.com distributes about you We are happy to provide you with a copy of the nonpublic information about you that is available from our system. At this time, for security reasons, we are not able to process email requests for print outs of personal information. Instead, please send a written request to:

    LocatePLUS.com
    ATTN: Nonpublic information disclosure
    100 Cummings Center, Suite 235M
    Beverly, MA 01915

    The request must contain the following:

    * Your name and complete (current) address
    * Your social security number
    * Your signature
    * Your Date of Birth
    * A check or money order for $25.00 payable to LocatePLUS.com

    Upon receipt of the request, we will search our nonpublic databases using your Social Security number. For security reasons, we will mail the report to the most current address available from the credit reporting agencies. Reports will not be available via email or facsimile. This policy helps ensure that your report cannot be obtained by anyone other than you. If you believe that we may have difficulty verifying your address, please include a daytime phone number with your request so that we may contact you for additional information.
    --
    But why is the rum gone?
  7. Re:Now... by br0ck · · Score: 2, Informative

    You jest, but it already happens.

    A quote: "I'm not going to be so naive as to say an officer hasn't seen a pretty girl and run her plate," said Carey, who also was once chief in Troy.

    Former Memphis Police Chief Phillip Ludos said the practice is so common it is known simply as "Running a plate for a date."