Newsstand - TSA faulted for restricting information

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6012-2003Oct9.html

The Transportation Security Administration is muzzling debate of security initiatives by labeling too many of the agency's policies and reports as too sensitive for public dissemination, according to pilots, flight attendants and consumer advocates.

Federal regulations say the TSA's administrator, James M. Loy, is "responsible for determining what information is [sensitive] and what persons are required to protect it." Generally, sensitive information is shared only on a "need to know" basis with airports, airlines and flight crews. Such data includes security threats or vulnerabilities relating to air travel and transportation.

That's vintage Scumbag Loy. Just like the Gestapo or the Stazi, everything's a big scary secret.

Well one thing's no secret, James Loy: You are one of the nation's biggest scumbags since McCarthy, you fascist punk.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

Oh come on spiff. Tell us how you really feel?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by xyzzy:
Oh come on spiff. Tell us how you really feel?</font>


Ok, I'll stop sugar-coating it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

There's a group called the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) whose charter is to make sure that federal agencies, including the TSA, properly classify information in accordance with laws and executive orders.

The most "famous" of the exective orders is EO 12958, which was updated during the Clinton Administration. Bush modified it early in his administration, but didn't substantially change its content. A section of EO 12958 lists inappropriate reasons for classifying information. A couple are:

1. Information classified simply to delay its eventual public release;
2. Information which would embarass an agency or its leaders..

I suspect Loy, as an agency head, is designated as an "original classification authority (OCA)", meaning he has the authority to classify anything he wants as high as he wants for as long as he wants to. EO 12958 outlines responsibilities and authorities of OCAs. For example, the TSA is required to have security classification guides available for every employee.

However, Loy and the TSA must comply with the guidelines in law and EOs. ISOO regularly inspects all federal agencies to insure compliance and to protect the public's interests.

Every TSA employee has the right -- and the obligation -- to challenge the agency's classification practices. Classification practices can't violate the Privacy Act or the Freedom of Information Act.

Sorry for the tutorial, but rest assured there are checks & balances in place. All somebody has to do is to take the first step to bring Loy and the TSA under control with respect to their information practices.