OK,
folks... as of this week, DOT has implementing a new System of
Records, designated as "DOT/TSA 010" under the Privacy Act of 1974,
with unprecedented, far-reaching power. The system will be used to
"facilitate the conduct of an aviation security-screening program,
including risk assessments to ensure aviation security."
Under this system, all airline passengers will apparently be
classified as terrorist suspects. That means that every airline
passenger will be subjected to the collection of their personal
data--which might otherwise have required a court order. The rule
makes them subject to revocation of their right to be hired or
retain employment, the issuance of a security clearance, a license
[Yes... YOUR PILOT's LICENSE may be at risk!],
contract, grant, or other benefit. This process can be undertaken
without their knowledge or consent.
This new action applies to "Individuals traveling
to, from, or within the United States (U.S.)
by passenger air transportation; individuals who are deemed to pose
a possible risk to transportation or national security, a possible
risk of air piracy or terrorism, or a potential threat to airline
or passenger safety, aviation safety, civil aviation, or national
security." Mind you; that can be just about
anyone...
The records to be collected include "Passenger Name Records
(PNRs) and associated data; reservation and manifest information of
passenger carriers and, in the case of individuals who are deemed
to pose a possible risk to transportation security, record
categories may include: risk assessment reports; financial and
transactional data; public source information; proprietary data;
and information from law enforcement and intelligence
sources."
Mind you; that can be just about anything.
The scope of the system is amazing, and the duration is even
more ponderous... "For individuals who are deemed to pose a
possible risk to transportation security, TSA is requesting that
those records may be maintained for up to 50
years. For all other individuals, those records will be
purged after completion of the individual's air travel to which the
record relates." Mind you; individuals who may pose a security risk
can (again), be just about anybody... especially
to the TSA.
How do you know if you're on the list and what measures have
been provided for the public to see what's been recorded about
them?
None.
"Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(k), this system of
records may not be accessed for purposes of determining if the
system contains a record pertaining to a particular individual."
Worse, the system, "contains investigative material compiled for
law enforcement purposes whose sources need not be
reported."
OK... what can these records be used for? There is a long list
of accesses and purposes assigned to this system, but if we're
reading this right, this extraordinary database can be used to
issue (or not) a security clearance, hire (or fire) someone,
grant (or not) a license and a whole lot more...
and you'll never know it.
Click the link below, read the rule and let us know what you
think.
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