Originally Posted by
cheesewiz
Step one – background check on traveler - this is currently done as the TSA requires full name and DOB of passenger. The airlines submits this info to the DHS for checks prior to flights.
Expand this portion to include a threat assessment level. Base this on life events and stability, is there a criminal record? On the cover does this person pose a threat. Do they have a family, do they have something to live for? Are they travelling alone, with family, or coworkers, are they US citizens?
Cross reference this info with the persons travelling history on airlines. Are they a frequent traveler? Have there been incidents onboard aircraft in the past?
This is a simple version that could create a treat level based on the person and their behaviours.
...
They will also question passenger as to where they are going, why, and ask other questions as to the reason for travel. Customs at every country does this upon entry. Based on the threat level and behavior of the passenger a level of screening will be done.
Sorry, but these should not and hopefully will not fly (bad pun) for domestic travel in the United States.
First of all, what you describe would have massive unintended consequences. People who rent their home, people who have gone through divorce, people who move a lot or happen to have no family contacts, etc., would be singled out and punished. They would inevitably attempt to use credit records (as they did for CAPPS II and early incarnations of Secure Flight). This would disproportionately impact the poor, and minorities, and college students.
Second of all, the right to travel can not be made conditional on giving up other rights, i.e., the right to privacy and the right to remain silent. Where I am traveling and why is absolutely none of the US government's business. Next month I am doing an overnight transcon round trip solely to retain 1P status on UA; you think I want to tell the government that?
If a court ever rules that US citizens have to answer government questions as a precondition of domestic travel, it will be long past time to either hunker down or get out of the country.
None of what is going on now is acceptable, but replacing it with the half of the USSR/East-German Stasi model that the US has not yet implemented is not the answer.