Congress Considers Forcing Travel Registration

macduffman writes "Congress and the Department of Homeland Security are considering several new visa restrictions, including forcing some foreign travelers to register their travel plans online 48 hours in advance. Business advocacy groups are worried about both foreign relations and the economic impact of such legislation, while privacy concerns see this as another possible 'in' for identity thieves. From the article: 'Along with online registration, the updated program would require new and existing member countries to improve data-sharing; more rigorously report lost and stolen passports (not just blank passports); and guarantee they will repatriate nationals if those people are ordered out of the United States. "It's really a 21st-century model," said James Carafano, a Heritage Foundation analyst who specializes in homeland security. "It'll all be done electronically and biometrically. And it really doesn't compromise your privacy."'"

Comments

Godwin

[MadUndergrad]

Vhere are your papers?

Newspeak and Doublethink

[Anonymous Coward]

> It's really a 21st-century model", said James Carafano, a Heritage Foundation analyst who specializes in homeland security. "It'll all be done electronically and biometrically. And it really doesn't compromise your privacy."'

Spectacular. In the 20th century, of course, that sort of thing was the opposite of "not compromising your privacy", and the sort of thing we used to think of as the domain of the Soviet Union.

But in Newspeak, we have the advantages of doublethink and duckspeak, and it no longer feels as weird. Thus: "20thinkers unbellyfeel Amsoc. 21thinkers bellyfell Amsoc! Carafano doubleplusgood HomeSec doublethinking duckspeaker!"

Speaking of the Soviet Union, from TFA:

> Applicant countries say U.S. officials are living in the past if they are worried about a flood of East Europeans entering - and not leaving.
>
> "Many people in the U.S. seem to believe it is a natural instinct of every Pole, Hungarian or Slovak to want to stay in the U.S.," Reiter said. "This is totally wrong today."

No Newspeak translation available:
"In Soviet Russia, people fleeing from tyranny wanted to stay in America!"

...but does it compromise my privacy?

[Anonymous Coward]

And it really doesn't compromise your privacy.

Wow, I'm convinced. Sign me up.

This is great idea for stopping terrorists.

[Morky]

If we just ask the terrorists where they will be staying and what their plans are, we will have no difficulties thwarting their plans. These are pious folk - they wouldn't lie.

Re:This nonsense is costing us jobs

[commodoresloat]

Are innocent people suffering? Yes. Even Senator Kennedy got on the no-fly list. Jeez, you could have picked a better example of an "innocent" person...

Re:"It's really a 21st-centry model."

[Sancho]

We clearly can't work off of names, as they aren't unique. Every person on the planet ought to be assigned a number. Since terrorists would just refuse to give up their number, we'll just implant a chip containing that number. Then, our watchlists will be perfect.

Digital Angel, here we come!

Re:"It's really a 21st-centry model."

[mjwx]

Convert to my religion, where when you die you get 73 virgins. However, we also punish evil women by giving them 73 virgins.