TSA Investigates... People Who Complain About TSA 379
Hugh Pickens writes "CNN has obtained a list of roughly 70 'behavioral indicators' that TSA behavior detection officers use to identify potentially 'high risk' passengers at the nation's airports, and report that arrogant complaining about airport security is one indicator TSA officers consider when looking for possible criminals and terrorists. When combined with other behavioral indicators, it could result in a traveler facing additional scrutiny. 'Expressing your contempt about airport procedures — that's a First Amendment-protected right,' says Michael German, a former FBI agent who now works as legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. 'It's circular reasoning where, you know, I'm going to ask someone to surrender their rights; if they refuse, that's evidence that I need to take their rights away from them. And it's simply inappropriate.' Interestingly enough, some experts say terrorists are much more likely to avoid confrontations with authorities, saying an al-Qaeda training manual instructs members to blend in."
The real terrorists. (Score:2, Interesting)
Who are the real terrorists? I'm not sure about you, but I'm almost afraid to fly.
As for "rights" ... you don't have any "rights" when it comes to the TSA.
Facecrime (Score:3, Interesting)
Wrong quote.
"Facecrime: An indication that a person is guilty of thoughtcrime based on their facial expression."
The article isn't about surveillance, it's about BDOs and SPOT [flyertalk.com] agents on the lookout for facecriminals.
"It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself, anything that carried with it the suggestion of abnormality, of having something to hide. In any case, to wear an improper expression on your face, was itself a punishable offense. There was even a word for it in Newspeak: facecrime"
If the Orwell's getting tired, I'd settle for a quote from the other design document on which TSA is based.
"Happiness is mandatory. Are you happy, Citizen?"
- Paranoia XP [mongoosepublishing.com], the post-9/11 revision of the classic 80s role-playing game.
I'm not so paranoid that I'm reluctant to post this as an AC, but I am paranoid enough that I didn't want to use the acronym for "role-playing-game."
Re:To be fair (Score:5, Interesting)
Just like people carrying drugs in their cars might suddenly get angry and combative with police about being pulled over "for no good reason".
Who told you that nonsense?
They don't. The people moving drugs use rental cars, since the car can get seized, and they tend to do the speed limit or right around it. If they get a ticket they are as nice as possible, no reason to want to attract attention. Your average methhead does not of course fit the description I gave, but that is because he is a moron meth user not someone moving large amount of drugs for profit.
Or SO I HEARD.
Re:Watch this documentary!!! (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually, I've had the pleasure of sitting by a few air marshals. It didn't come up in conversation, but when they're using a government issued computer, and looking at training photos, or reading documents that have a security clearance, it becomes more obvious. And ya, the sports coat and ankle holster are dead giveaways.
Hmmm.. Thinking about it, half the time I dress for business. Those trips, I'm getting off the plane and then to a meeting of some sort. When dressed like that, I'm treated very well and expedited through the line. t-shirt and jeans usually gets me a secondary screening.
I guess a crew cut and business dress clothes are a dead giveaway that I'm an agent of some sort.
I was doing some traveling with a coworker for a while. I started to play a game with him. It was "watch their behavior" game. Dress clothes? No problem. Casual clothes, problems. I only wore casual when we had plenty of time for the flight, as it'd add about 15 minutes for me at the checkpoint. Hey, for every minute they're harassing me, that's another minute they aren't harassing someone else. I can deal with verbal abuse, obtuse questioning, and a bit of molestation. If you close your eyes, it's like being at a massage parlor, except without the happy ending.
Re:Yep... (Score:5, Interesting)
In case any of us hadn't noticed, all of this authoritarian war-on-terrorism crap is taking place at a time when the rights and economic well-being of everyone in the middle class on down is under attack. It doesn't require a big stretch of the imagination to realize that this may all be in anticipation of the civil unrest and disobedience that often accompanies this kind of class warfare from above.