The Transportation Security Administration has announced a new program to screen frequent air passengers by asking them to voluntarily obtain a new form of identification called a Registered Traveller card. Holders of this card will merit expedited passage through TSA airport checkpoints, but they will be required to consent to an intrusive background check in order to get it.
The Toronto
Globe and Mail newspaper is is reporting that holders of the new pass would be subject to checks of their credit histories and property records, as well as criminal background checks. The idea here is to be able to identify terrorists who aren't already on the watch lists by using data profiling. What is particularly troubling is that this intelligence gathering operation will be privatized, and the TSA will certify "qualified" companies to collect and manage this information.
Before the companies are allowed to sell Registered Traveller cards, they have to demonstrate that they can somehow figure out whether applicants are members of terrorist sleeper cells by plowing through bank records, insurance data and other personal information available commercially -- or by some other method.
The TSA has been incrementally introducing this program for quite some time. They conducted tests of the Registered Traveller program at five airports throughout 2004 and 2005, but only now are they announcing their intention to expand the program nationwide.
Given that the private sector has a very poor record of protecting consumer data from hackers and other data thieves, what makes the government so sure that this information will not fall into the wrong hands?
Obviously, the TSA has been planning this for a long time, and this is just the beginning. How long will it be before all airline passengers must consent to having their dossiers checked before they can fly?