Submitted Comments
438 comments total, 371 to display, page 37 of 38, 10 at a time (most recent first)
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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.
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. 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.
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