Submitted Comments
23 From Seth D, San Ramon, CA, 18 October 2004, 07:13:25 AM PST
Spying on the flying habits of everyone in america is not going to make us any safer. It is also probably unconstitutional.
22 From Jack P, Cambridge, MA, 18 October 2004, 07:05:50 AM PST
To the Transportation Security Agency,
The use of millions upon millions of federal tax dollars for the purpose of generating ineffective terrorist watch lists is unacceptable. The TSA should know well by now that these lists are slow to respond, easy to spoof, and catch an inordinately large number of false positives, and also that the acquisition of additional passenger data does not meaningfully help the process. Before acquiring more passenger data and violating more privacy rights, the TSA must consider how it is serving the American public with its ineffective watch lists. As it stands, the TSA's previous privacy violations are still under investigation by the Inspector General of the DHS, and it is a disservice to fliers past, present, and future to invasively search private flying records without cause.
20 From Jay S, 18 October 2004, 06:06:26 AM PST
Civil liberties shouldn't have died on 9/11.
19 From Ken P, Lewisville, TX, 18 October 2004, 05:39:05 AM PST
We see how well the system works already. Cat Stevens was already on the plane headed to the US. Please protect us from Cat Stevens!
The main point is this system isn't designed to prevent terrorists it's actually for collecting data. If one of the noted terrorists techniques is to buy a one way ticket with cash then why are they looking to collect Credit Card data and whether they need a special meal. This system doesn't pass the sniff test. How about scanning the Cargo Hold instead?
15 From Jason B, Northport, AL, 18 October 2004, 04:51:09 AM PST
Sounds like a grand idea, it's not like I value my civil liberties at all. In fact, take away my freedom of speech while you're at it. I certaintly don't want my thoughts impeding the war on terror.
14 From anonymous, 18 October 2004, 04:39:49 AM PST
There is no evidence to support the case for this being necessary. In fact, the only evidence I am aware of is how well this sort of thing worked in Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. As Americans, do we really want to enter into the same sort of restrictions that contributed to the downfall our our past enemies? Look at movies in the 80's and how they show the evils of not being able to travel freely within the USSR. Secret Police and Patrolled Internal Borders are un-American, and let us have the sense to recognize that.
13 From John D, 18 October 2004, 03:27:55 AM PST
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am very concerned that your proposed change of policy (the so-called "Secure Flight" program) might have the effect of giving the federal government the right to prevent law-abiding Americans from flying. In fact, American taxpayers have not been presented with any information that should show how passengers can contact the TSA to determine whether the information on your list is erroneous or correct mistaken information.
In order to show that the provision of information proposed under the "Secure Flight" program is lawful, please provide evidence that the people selected for the proposed program have given their permission for their information to be turned-over to the government.
Please also share with the American public the results of your earlier testing of personal information databases, as well as whether or not there have been any administrative punishments for earlier invasions of privacy of millions of Americans conducted by your department.
12 From Kristen M, Tokyo, 18 October 2004, 03:13:07 AM PST
As an American who lives abroad, I am very concerned about the erosion of privacy and civil liberties in my homeland. While I do value safe travel, I think that it is equally important to protect the rights of citizen to move freely about the country and the world without fear of being watched, followed, profiled, or blacklisted.
The TSA should not be allowed to obtain flight records without the express written consent of the traveller. I would not be satisfied with an implicit consent by purchasing a ticket or being issued a boarding pass with a legal disclaimer and waiver printed on it, only a handwritten letter of consent that ensures the traveller is aware of the information he or she is providing is acceptable.
Please take the privacy concerns of honest citizens into consideration when you make your plans to foil terrorism. Otherwise you risk terrorizing your own people by intimidating them into not traveling.
<<first page <previous page next page> last page>>