Airlines provide sensitive passenger data to TSA and contractors
 

The article essentially accuses TSA of lying in public statements. Read the full text in Wired

Your source isn't exactly objective. I'm no lawyer; however, I know that there are many complications regarding the Privacy Act of 1974 because of the many misinterpretations and/or misperceptions that tend to be used as political footballs.

Bottom line on the Privacy Act is this: the government can use personal information for official use only.

It was no secret that TSA was testing CAPPS II in certain cities to determine whether or not this would be a reasonable alternative to the current selectee screening process. I am confident that the TSA lawyers researched the privacy issues and gave their advice to TSA on how to proceed. I am not saying that this legal advice is without controversy; I'm pretty sure there are plenty of controversies particularly whenever personal information is being used.

I'm not saying that there is no need for concern. Of course we should always be concerned any time our personal information is being used by government. However, I don't see this as some sinister plot to usurp our freedoms nor do I think TSA is lying to the public. I think all things will be settled in due time inside the courtroom. The author of your source is playing on emotions and apparently succeeding.

Hi MikeLaw,

Usually the best place to post news articles is in Newsstand. I started a thread over there with a related article.


Hi Bart,

Um, Stone may be just massaging the truth into unrecognizable form, but it sure seems like lying to me.

You can read David Stone's testimony to Congress here. It's particularly interesting that in written testimony, see page 6 of the above, Stone says:

"To date, TSA has not secured PNR data to test CAPPS-II. Until we are confident that both the security system and redress procedures meet privacy and security muster, we have no intention of collecting PNR data for any reason."

This is after he gave the names of the airlines and airline reservation systems that turned over PNR data to the TSA. Okay, I agree that TSA hasn't "secured" it: they haven't made it secure. I agree that the TSA won't be "collecting" PNR data, but no one ever said they would, because airlines and reservations systems are the ones who collect it. Stone's Clintonian word parsing hardly inspires confidence.