U.S. rethinks airline passenger screening plan (CAPPSII)

[UpInArms]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/07/15/passenger.background/

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A federal plan to collect personal data about airline passengers to block potential terrorists from boarding aircraft has been abandoned, a government source familiar with its development said Thursday.

Privacy advocates had opposed the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System -- or CAPPS II -- because it would have required the airlines to share a passenger's full name, home address, home telephone number, birth date and some information about that passenger's itinerary with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

That information would have been checked against commercial data bases to verify the person's identity or whether an alias was being used.

Thus far, $40 million dollars of the appropriated $100 million has been spent on the development of CAPPS II, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The department is developing an alternate method to screen passengers. Calling the new program a "high priority for the department," the department is "reconfiguring the way in which the system works," according to Brian Roehrkasse, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.

The new system, which is in development, would check passengers' names and additional information against a significantly expanded terrorist watch-list.

...more...

[tom_paine]

1. Well, that means CAPPSII has been move to the Black Budget and renamed

Like the Terror Futures Market

Like total Information Awareness

Like Faith-Based Funding (not Black Ops for this one--Imperial Fiat--same thing)

If the Busheviks say it's been cancelled...then it LIVES!

[Ayesha]

2. same shit different package

"The new system, which is in development, would check passengers' names and additional information against a significantly expanded terrorist watch-list."

And this is different from the previous plan in what way?

Same shit, different package. It's typical BushCo thinking - if we rename it and try to make it sound friendlier, maybe the sheep..er, American people will buy it. Luckily, they have "misunderestimated" us greatly.

[lil-petunia]

3. I fly, I hate it and I

was petrified of this capps crapps.

Used to love to be in the air. Not now. poor food, dirtier, crowded planes, bad air, and expensive drinks.

And that is AFTER taking shoes off, and not being allowed to carry my handy dandy swiss army knife that for decades, I take everywhere. And use repeatedly throughout the day.

[UpInArms]

4. Welcome to DU Ayesha!

Glad to have you here :hi:

[tom_paine]

6. Have they, Ayesha? I see little evidence yet.

One thing you learn FAST in Imperial Amerika since the Bloodless Coup, is to believe NOTHING until you see it happen.

By the way, welcome to DU!

:hi: :hi: :hi: :toast:

[KittyWampus]

5. Currently, Name Recognition Alone Is The System Used To Check Passengers

It is insufficient.

CAPPS was essentially what Gore's study on Aviation Safety/Terrorism recommended.

Before everyone begins bitching about this... how about coming up with an alternate plan to bring the Passenger Screening System into the 21st century.

During the primaries, I heard a lot of people talking trash about CAPPS but no one ventured to say what THEIR candidate's plan was, or what their own bright idea was.

Funny how things like this work: everyone says NO NO NO, but do not offer a viable alternative.

[ixion]

7. viable alternative

respect people's Right to Privacy.

There is no reason to screen in this manner. There are currently more than enough intel gathering sources. This is facism, nothing more.

[stickdog]

9. Let American citizens on the god damn plane after checking them for

weapons and other dangerous substances.

How's that for a plan?

When was the last time an American citizen successfully hijacked a domestic passenger plane?

Why invade every American's privacy over a non-existent threat?

[KittyWampus]

10. So Gore's Commission Didn't Know What They Were Talking About?

Not everyone boarding planes in America is, in fact, an American citizen.

Not everyone is who they SAY they are. False identities are not difficult to come by.

You are suggesting that everyone be strip searched, their luggage taken apart and every single package/suitcase in cargo hold be opened examined?

Non-existent threat? Gore's Commission found otherwise. You'd need some reputable links to disprove their finding.

[stickdog]

11. I don't give a FLYING FUCK what Gore's commission said.

If you can show that you are an American citizen through a valid passport or a valid driver's license, then you can get on the plane after somebody checks your carry-on bags, pats you down and passes you through a metal detector.

That's my plan. You can add a random further personal search for a random subset of individuals if you want, but that's overkill at this point, IMHO.


*****


What is the threat? Specifically, when was the last time that an American citizen passenger successfully hijacked (or caused a crash) on a domestic passenger jet?

Please answer the question.

[KittyWampus]

12. Your Question Is Irrelevant Since FAKE ID Isn't Hard To Get

[stickdog]

13. Then check state DMV & Department of State databases.

No other databases need to be brought into this.

How in the hell can any system protect against identity theft? Hint: None can. Furthermore, CAPPS II would ensure that someone who stole a "safe" identity would be waved through -- which would only help any would-be terrorists smuggle bad stuff onto planes.

[Kellanved]

8. there will be a new one

It did not get canned for legal or ethical reasons, but because the technology did not work.
The fusion of public, governmental, international and corporate databases proved to be more difficult than anticipated.