Security expert Bruce Schneier has just posted part four of his interview with TSA head Kip Hawley. Today, they talk about profiling and “registered traveler” programs. Hawley says that the real defense at the airport are the undercover “behavioral officers” who watch for tell-tale facial twitches to spot terrorists.
BS: What about Registered Traveler? When TSA first started talking about the program, the plan was to divide people into two categories: more trusted people who get less screening, and less trusted people who get more screening. This opened an enormous security hole; whenever you create an easy way and a hard way through security, you invite the bad guys to take the easier way. Since then, it’s transformed into a way for people to pay for better screening equipment and faster processing — a great idea with no security downsides. Given that, why bother with the background checks at all? What else is it besides a way for a potential terrorist to spend $60 and find out if the government is on to them?
See also:
TSA chief: no-fly lists work, but it’s a secret
TSA chief promises an eternity of unshoeing
Bruce Schneier interviews TSA head Kip Hawley