What's up with additional security guards at IAD?
 

In IAD B Terminal this afternoon and saw no less than 3 private security guards (not TSA) with clipboards taking notes and data gathering on passenger activity. Has anyone else seen this and does anyone have any idea whats going on? I found it to be quite creepy. Can private guards do things that are beyond the TSA job description?

Private guards can perform any constitutional activity that we can. Observe anything in public. Take notes. Video or audio tape if allowed by local regulations. Appear "suspicious".

Whatever "we" want the right to do we have to allow "them" to do as well. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Are you sure they were security guards and not researchers/data collectors?

I couldn't tell you why, but IAD has had an increased presence of law enforcement throughout the main terminal starting about a month ago. I wonder if the data collection is part of whatever campaign that's started.

If the private security guards are employed by a governmental entity, then generally speaking, the same constitutional restrictions applied to government employees will be applied to them.

+1 - Somebody wants to stand there and take notes about how many people tow their roll-a-board in their left-hand vs. right-hand, that's their prerogative. Whether they are collecting data for the government, a private research firm or are just really bored.

The holidays are coming and they've been watching Die Hard 2?

Funny, I was about to post on how short-handed TSA looked at IAD this Sunday--single lane (1 magnetron) for entire airport. When it got to ~300 deep, they opened another lane. Manger-on-duty (25 year old?) said it was 'shift change' which convinced approximately no one in line. Many comment cards filled out. (No changes expected.)

OTOH, no sign of clip-board wielding folks in C / D.