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TSA Screening Barely Working Better Than Chance

rwise2112 writes "The General Accounting Office (GAO) has completed a study of the TSAs SPOT (Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques) program and found the program is only slightly better than chance at finding criminals. Given that the TSA has spent almost a billion dollars on the program, that's a pretty poor record. As a result, the GAO is requesting that both Congress and the president withhold funding from the program until the TSA can demonstrate its effectiveness."

3 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Fuck the TSA by trollboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    as a 7' tall man of german descent, I always get "randomly" chosen as well. I assure you it's not so much the "olive skin" as it is the "different" or "standing out for any reason".. which is also deplorable and ineffective for the task at hand.

    And yes, no option to opt out of all the still beta FBS

    --
    That which is not dead may eternal lie,and in strange aeons even death may die
  2. Re:Purpose of the TSA by artor3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    No, it's not. Don't be stupid. There's no grand conspiracy out to get you. The TSA exists because after 9/11 people demanded that the government do something to make us safer. And so the politicians created this security theater, because it's what the voters wanted.

    And they still do want it, as the TSA gets excellent approval ratings. They don't know or care that it's just theater, they just want to feel safe.

    It's as simple as that. The people want to feel safe, so an organization was created to help them feel safe, even if it doesn't actually make them safe. And contrary to the ravings of the conspiracy theorists, this IS a democracy. The people get what they want, for better or worse.

  3. Re:Fuck the TSA by sjames · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm fine with armed pilots. They should be given frangible bullets suitable for use on aircraft./p