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Yet another thing we can blame on Putin and Russian bots for hacking our Democracy...
Quote:
Federal air marshals have begun following ordinary US citizens not suspected of a crime or on any terrorist watch list and collecting extensive information about their movements and behavior under a new domestic surveillance program that is drawing criticism from within the agency.
The previously undisclosed program, called “Quiet Skies,” specifically targets travelers who “are not under investigation by any agency and are not in the Terrorist Screening Data Base,” according to a Transportation Security Administration bulletin in March.
Quote:
Already under Quiet Skies, thousands of unsuspecting Americans have been subjected to targeted airport and inflight surveillance, carried out by small teams of armed, undercover air marshals, government documents show. The teams document whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a “jump” in their Adam’s apple or a “cold penetrating stare,” among other behaviors, according to the records.
At least the air marshals know how dangerous this is and are trying to do something about it:
Quote:
Since this initiative launched in March, dozens of air marshals have raised concerns about the Quiet Skies program with senior officials and colleagues, sought legal counsel, and expressed misgivings about the surveillance program, according to interviews and documents reviewed by the Globe.
They are profiling people whether they want to admit it or not and I agree to a point.
If someone is acting odd by fidgeting, sweating, blinking excessively and other nervous tics it could just be that they are nervous about flying or they could be hiding something. They could also have autism or another malady.
This program was started in 2010 so don't go trying to blame Americas favorite punching bag.
Yes the program is invasive but so is going to the mall where the traffic lights have cameras, the parking lot, the entrances, the stores etc etc all have cameras watching.
If this program stops one person from smuggling drugs, a weapon they can use to take over a plane or a bomb then I say do it.
They are profiling people whether they want to admit it or not and I agree to a point.
If someone is acting odd by fidgeting, sweating, blinking excessively and other nervous tics it could just be that they are nervous about flying or they could be hiding something. They could also have autism or another malady.
This program was started in 2010 so don't go trying to blame Americas favorite punching bag.
Yes the program is invasive but so is going to the mall where the traffic lights have cameras, the parking lot, the entrances, the stores etc etc all have cameras watching.
If this program stops one person from smuggling drugs, a weapon they can use to take over a plane or a bomb then I say do it.
It was sarcasm, bud. Jesus. It was a shot at the Russia paranoiacs.
The entire point is that Americans actually believe they're “free,” when the reality is that we're anything but. The American police state is real, and most of us would rather argue over inconsequential issues than acknowledge it.
And your submission to the will of the government is the root of the problem. You, like far too many people, are more than willing to relinquish your liberty for a little temporary safety. It's truly mind-blowing.
It was sarcasm, bud. Jesus. It was a shot at the Russia paranoiacs.
The entire point is that Americans actually believe they're “free,” when the reality is that we're anything but. The American police state is real, and most of us would rather argue over inconsequential issues than acknowledge it.
And your submission to the will of the government is the root of the problem. You, like far too many people, are more than willing to relinquish your liberty for a little temporary safety. It's truly mind-blowing.
How does potentially being watched in a public space threaten freedom?
Don’t like it? Avoid airports, all public spaces as well as most places of business.
Sounds like we're paying for govt employees to fly around the country and see the sights on top of the whole gate rape/assault apparatus that is already in place. And of course its a "secret program", all the better to hide its innefectiveness.
Airlines should enforce their own security measures, I'm certain the market would have much better and effective solutions, not to mention only its customers would be funding it.
freedom and security can co-exist.
I had some strange TSA activity this winter. My family travels 3 or 4 times a year, and until this year have never been singled out. This year someone from my family was singled out every trip. My wife on one flight, my 14 year old daughter on another, and my 8 year old daughter on another. All 3 flights were international. It was a minor inconvenience, and I figured it was a small price to pay to be on a safe plane. I just found it strange, considering we are a typical family and flying a lot is not something new to us. The article says this program was started in March and only one of our flights was after March, so its probably just a coincidence.
I'm OK sacrificing a small bit of freedom for common sense safety regulations since there are real threats that need to be dealt with.
The vast majority of those threats coming from those doing the watching.
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