Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Identity Tech: Confusing Osama bin Laden with Johnny Rotten

John Joseph Lydon, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten
Image source: nndb.com

Mark Williams writes on Technology Review:

At the end of last February, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched its Traveler Redress Inquiry Program for the 30,000-plus individuals who in the years since September 11 have been misidentified as possible terrorists by the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) infamous "no fly" and "selectee" lists. These people may now ask for investigative reviews via an official website, in the hope that the TSA will eventually remove their names.

Alas, the realization of their hopes may be long postponed. Officially, the TSA's much delayed Secure Flight computerized passenger prescreening system will roll out by fall 2008 at the earliest. But TSA administrators have told Congress that full implementation of the system--costing $140 million already and requiring at least $80 million more--may not happen before 2010. Translation: nobody at the DHS and TSA will be taking responsibility for removing any names from the watch lists, and individuals on the lists will continue to undergo extra screening of their persons and carry-ons.

More here.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home