Submitted Comments
40 From Roger S, West Hartford, CT, 18 October 2004, 10:24:19 AM PST
"Secure Flight" is an affont to the individual freedoms that America is built on. The only classes allowed on airlines should be first class and coach, not classes of people who are no longer allowed to fly. What next, watch lists for trains? Checkpoints at state borders?
TSA is only operating with security in mind, but security must be balanced with individual liberty and safeguards for privacy. Until this is made a priority I strongly oppose the creation of Secure Flight, CAPPS, and any other illigitimate data-mining programs to succeed them.
38 From Joshua, 18 October 2004, 09:21:47 AM PST
At no point during my domestic flight this summer was I informed that my private data would be recorded and utilized against my will in the future. I do not consent to this unnecessary intrusion into my privacy, and cannot accept that it is a necessary measure to protect our country.
37 From Daniel W, New York, NY, 18 October 2004, 09:20:43 AM PST
Hello,
As a citizen, I urge you to cancel the planned test of the Secure Flight program. Not only would Secure Flight be an intrusion on our Constitutional rights, it would not make the USA safer, as many security experts will tell you. For instance, Bruce Schneier (http://www.schneier.com), a security expert, author and founder of Counterpane Internet Security Inc (http://www.counterpane.com/), has argued persuasively that profiling databases are unreliable, ineffective, and very expensive (spending money that could be better spent on more effective security measures, such as increased baggage screening and training for TSA employees). I urge you to read Mr. Schneier's essay "IDs and the Illusion of Security" (http://www.schneier.com/essay-008.html). Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Daniel Winckler
35 From Kellie M, Prospect, TN, 18 October 2004, 09:07:42 AM PST
TSA is unnecessary and ineffectual. This country is great because of the rights and freedoms that we have. If those rights are revoked in the name of security, this country will lose much of its greatness. The sad part is that the TSA will do very little to actually increase our security. It will actually decrease our security to the extent that it gives a false sense of security.
34 From Marc W, Thurmont, MD, 18 October 2004, 09:02:28 AM PST
Its tragic to observe the steady erosion of personal liberty. Our nation, under the guise of making us all safer from terror attacks, is turning into a "Papers Please" society. How can collecting all of this information accomplish anything but making the watch lists even more unmanageable? Someone desiring to do something bad is going to go out of their way to spoof this system. It saddens me to see my country going so far in the wrong direction in this area, and neglecting other issues which are equally important to the long-term health of our nation. I have flown numerous times since the attacks of September 11th and feel no more or less secure than I was before those terrible events. I feel like our government is spying on its own people for reasons which go beyond the need for air security. What about trains? or buses? or any other vehicle? "Secure Flight" is a bad idea for a nation desiring to promote democracy around the world. Its a bad idea for a nation of free people. Its bad for civil liberties. Its bad for personal liberty.
31 From Max K, Sunnyvale, CA, 18 October 2004, 08:14:58 AM PST
If we destroy the freedoms that make America great, we let the terrorists win.
30 From Micah A, Chicago, IL, 18 October 2004, 08:14:05 AM PST
Hi, this is rediculous, stop being so silly. You caught Cat Stevens! But should'nt you have stopped him before he got on a plane, instead of in the middle of a flight? How does the singer of "Peace Train" get off this list? How does an average person?
I didn't give my permission for this information to be turned over to the government, and done illegally. How do we know that you wont pass my private information to others?
My last flight I took I had a view of the TSA people doing bag searches behind an X-Ray machine. I saw them open a bag, pull out a Penthouse magazine and then proceed to "examine it for weapons" for a full 15 minutes before putting it back in the bag and then closing the bag (without looking through any of the rest of the contents). I feel so secure knowing that people are looking through my stuff so well and enjoying it.
I demand no further expansions of your power until you have been fully investigated by the DHS for previous privacy violations, and you've got a good way to get someone of your silly list if they dont belong, a GOOD way, not some way requiring you to be a US Senator. How about screening cargo?
27 From Joshua H, Newton Highlands, MA, 18 October 2004, 07:42:02 AM PST
I am concerned about the plans for the 'Secure Flight' program. It is my understanding that the program will extend the CAPPS plans - private information about airline passengers would be turned over to private contractors for analysis and the eventaul addition of names to the so-called 'Terrorist Watch List.'
I have known people who, for one reason or another, have been placed on this list. From their experiences, I know that there is no mechanism for determing the reason one was places on such a list, nor is there a straightforward mechanism to remove one's name from such a list.
I work in the software industry. If we were to implement such a program ourselves, we'd understandably lose out customers. The users of any such system, be it a software program or a security screening effort, are its best source of Quality Assurance data. The fact that data quality feedback, in the form of redressing passenger complaints, is neither solicited nor accepted indicates a lack of interest on the part of the TSA in implementing a quality security product.
For these reasons, I must demand that the 'Secure Flight' program not go forward. It will fail in its mission of keeping Americans safe, and it will fail in its mandate to secure our privacy.
25 From Rajat T, Grand Rapids, MI, 18 October 2004, 07:20:20 AM PST
Please stop eroding our freedoms and remember what our forefathers fought for!
24 From Ramapriyan P, Howell, NJ, 18 October 2004, 07:15:08 AM PST
Why is it that the government of the people makes it difficult for its constitutents to make use of commercial flight? If I have no items of potential danger on my person, that is all the government should need to know. I should be entitled to fly without having my personal information shared among commercial companies which do not have to know one iota about me. In fact they see my information as money! This is more wasteful spending, and just plain ineptitude and ignorance. Maybe I should make a company and have the TSA pay me to do absolutely nothing useful. Great job TSA - this is not exactly how I envisioned you fighting the war on terror.