"Air traveler ID system -- Fear of flying"

Monday, August 11, 2003

Editorial
Air traveler ID system -- Fear of flying
Americans are less willing to give up their civil liberties for security
The Topeka (KS) Capital-Journal


In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, fear led us down a dangerous path of yielding
some of our constitutional rights. In a face-off between security and
privacy, the tendency was to favor security -- and in many cases the
government was all too happy to comply.

And who could be opposed to something as comforting sounding as "homeland
security" and the Patriot Act?

However, those wholesome-sounding words sometimes hid the proverbial wolf in
sheep's clothing. Uncle Sam was going to access our library records and
video store rentals to find out what we were reading and watching. Neighbors
and mail carriers, delivery people and repairmen were encouraged to spy on
us when they were in our homes to see if we had any terrorist materials
around. Airline passengers were going to be flagged because of certain
traits or background information.

As the initial panic has waned, saner heads are prevailing. The Computer
Assisted Passenger Prescreening System is one example.

In its original form, the system raised concerns about snooping and false
labeling. It would have given the government access to more personal
information than needed and that information could be kept for up to 50
years.

The new version stipulates that personal information will be deleted from
the system shortly after a person completes travel, and bank and credit
records and medical histories will be off-limits. Plus people can find out
what is in the database about themselves.

The initial screening will check a traveler's name, birthday, address and
telephone number against commercial databases. If questions arise, the
passenger will have to undergo a secondary screening with a handheld wand.

Airlines applaud the changes because they reduce the security hassles that
discourage some people from traveling.

The rest of us applaud them because they provide more protections against
the invasion of our privacy.


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