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TSA Announces Pilot of Trusted Traveler Program

Posted by Soulskill on from the another-day-at-the-theater dept.

Bob the Super Hamste writes "CNN reports that the TSA has announced the pilot of their trusted traveler program. This is the program where an individual gives up additional information to the government and then gets expedited security. The pilot program will only be available to certain frequent fliers on Delta passengers flying out of Atlanta and Detroit, and to American Airlines passengers flying out of Miami and Dallas. Plans are in the work to expand this to other airports and other airlines as well."

14 of 388 comments (clear)

  1. Implying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    All other travelers presumed guilty.

  2. Lovely by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is a perfect solution that balances the public wish for appearance of freedom, with the government and corporate wish for the appearance of security.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
    1. Re:Lovely by gearsmithy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Now that's what I call freedumb!

  3. Bad idea by DanTheStone · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We all know how this will go. Fewer lines will be allocated to normal lines, pushing people to give up tons of personal information in order to return to the speeds they previously had (as everyone will want the faster lines), instead of the skyrocketing time of the normal lines. It's the carrot approach to getting people to give up all their rights and personal information.

    1. Re:Bad idea by Lust · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And there is no guarantee the system will not be revoked in future - personal information cannot suddenly become private again.

  4. I Am Trusted Traveler by lordDallan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Until I am PROVEN GUILTY of not being one. I don't have to "opt in" for what should be my no-questions-asked constitutional rights.

    1. Re:I Am Trusted Traveler by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Except that there is no constitutional right to fly in an airplane. If you don't like their rules, don't fly.

      Argument over.

      Except the whole point of the US Constitution is that lists the rights of the government, not the rights of the people. And prohibiting people from traveling in private transport is not one of them.

    2. Re:I Am Trusted Traveler by CelticWhisper · · Score: 5, Informative

      Reference 49 USC S40103(a)(2): "A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace."

      http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/49/usc_sec_49_00040103----000-.html

      --
      Help protect civil rights from abuse by the TSA - visit TSA News Blog.
      http://www.tsanewsblog.com
  5. Multi-Step Approach by ThinkWeak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Step 1: Create new "elite program" requesting additional privacy invasion
    Step 2: Initially limit ability into "elite program" to create artificial demand
    Step 3: Make it more painful for those not in "elite program" to travel
    Step 4: Create new "platinum elite program" requesting even more privacy information
    ....
    Step n: All your base are belong to us

    In all seriousness, this is the slippery slope everyone talks about.

  6. Be polite... by Lord+Grey · · Score: 5, Funny

    When my doorbell rings and the Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons are on the doorstop, I tell them "No, thanks."

    When the TSA offers to restore a small bit of the freedom I used to have anyway, but only after forcing me to give up something else, I say, "No, thanks, you intrusive motherfucking bastards."

    Mom did try to raise a polite child, you know.

    --
    // Beyond Here Lie Dragons
  7. Self pat-down by gomiam · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are trusted travelers to pat themselves down or supposed to do a striptease? :)

  8. This is worse than the current system by dkleinsc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Any terrorist with half a brain trying to plan an attack on an airplane now knows exactly how to do it: Forge an identity or recruit a new terrorist that can meet the Trusted Traveler requirements. Then use the Trusted Traveler identity to bypass the security that might catch your terrorist plot. Bruce Schneier writes a great deal about this: If you create an easier-than-standard path through security constraints, the bad guys, just like the good guys, will take the easier route, every single time.

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  9. Re:From Detroit? by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 5, Funny

    A one way out of Detroit isnt suspicious. It means you've got the good sense not to come back.

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  10. Another "class" of citizen. by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You are absolutely correct. This is simply more government blackmail in disguise.

    This system would establish a new class of people who are allowed to travel without question while most of the people are left to undergo "screening".

    The system, even as ideally envisioned, is a breeding ground for abuse, because people who give even decently manufactured information to the TSA will get privileged access. Just like RFID passports, it gives the illusion of more security while actually reducing real security, because intelligent criminals will then be trusted without question.

    The TSA needs to be abolished, not allowed to create discriminatory, security-harming policies.