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02 Dec 06 - 11:11 AM (#1898314) Subject: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: Amos Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release For Immediate Release: Thursday, November 30, 2006 Contact: David Sobel Senior Counsel Electronic Frontier Foundation sobel@eff.org +1 202 797-9009 x10 American Travelers to Get Secret 'Risk Assessment' Scores EFF Fights Huge Data-Mining Program Set for Rollout on U.S. Borders Washington, D.C. - An invasive and unprecedented data-mining system is set to be deployed on U.S. travelers Monday, despite substantial questions about Americans' privacy. In comments sent to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) asked the agency to delay the program's rollout until it makes more details available to the public and addresses critical privacy and due process concerns. The Automated Targeting System (ATS) will create and assign "risk assessments" to tens of millions of citizens as they enter and leave the country. Individuals will have no way to access information about their "risk assessment" scores or to correct any false information about them. But once the assessment is made, the government will retain the information for 40 years -- as well as make it available to untold numbers of federal, state, local, and foreign agencies in addition to contractors, grantees, consultants, and others. "The government is preparing to give millions of law-abiding citizens 'risk assessment' scores that will follow them throughout their lives," said EFF Senior Counsel David Sobel. "If that wasn't frightening enough, none of us will have the ability to know our own score, or to challenge it. Homeland Security needs to delay the deployment of this system and allow for an informed public debate on this dangerous proposal." Earlier this month, EFF's FLAG Project submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to DHS seeking more details about the ATS data-mining program, but the agency has not yet disclosed the requested information. For EFF's full comments to DHS: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/ats/ats_comments.pdf For the DHS Federal Register notice announcing ATS: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/06-9026.htm For this release: http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_11.php#005030 This smells like another constitutional insult in the making to me. It always surprises me when some *&^%$ in the government dreams up a new way to invade citizens' privacy just because he can. There oughta, I say there oughta be a law! A |
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02 Dec 06 - 01:25 PM (#1898400) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: Ebbie NBC with Brian Williams did a segment on this last night. They interviewed several 'officials' and the word was that if the traveler challenges a ruling, he/she is given SOME of the criteria they used to ban his travel, but not all. Among the criteria - and I don't know the meaning and weight of each - are paying for someone else's travel, method of payment, one-way travel, seat placement, choice of meals... I don't know what all. |
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02 Dec 06 - 01:29 PM (#1898404) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: DougR Yeah. I'm scared to death. DougR |
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02 Dec 06 - 01:30 PM (#1898407) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: John MacKenzie You should try jumping through all the hoops non US citizens have to jump through, just for the privelege of coming to the US and spending their money! Giok |
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02 Dec 06 - 02:48 PM (#1898457) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: dianavan 'The Automated Targeting System (ATS) will create and assign "risk assessments" to tens of millions of citizens as they enter and leave the country.' As they enter the country? Does that mean they have a right to track citizens of other countries as well? |
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02 Dec 06 - 05:10 PM (#1898579) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: JohnInKansas U.S. rates travelers for terror risk The Associated Press (at MSNBC) Updated: 7:10 p.m. CT Dec 1, 2006 "… millions of Americans who travel internationally have been assigned risk assessments over the last four years without their knowledge. "… … … " Almost every person entering and leaving the United States by air, sea or land is assessed based on ATS' analysis of their travel records and other data, including items such as where they are from, how they paid for tickets, their motor vehicle records, past one-way travel, seating preference and what kind of meal they ordered. "The use of the program on travelers was quietly disclosed earlier this month when the department put a notice detailing ATS in the Federal Register, a fine-print compendium of federal rules. The few civil liberties lawyers who had heard of ATS and even some law enforcement officers said they had thought it was only used to screen cargo." John |
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02 Dec 06 - 06:35 PM (#1898656) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: Greg F. Go back to sleep, Douggie - until it's you they haul you off the plane, or deny you re-entry & strand you in a foreign country, that is. |
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02 Dec 06 - 07:08 PM (#1898681) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: Don(Wyziwyg)T DougR is right Greg. He's perfectly safe. After all, the Bush administration is hardly likely to upset his last remaining supporter. Don T. |
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02 Dec 06 - 07:38 PM (#1898698) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: McGrath of Harlow But isn't it a bit suspicious for any real American to wish to leave the country anyway? |
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02 Dec 06 - 07:54 PM (#1898707) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: The Fooles Troupe QUOTE "… millions of Americans who travel internationally have been assigned risk assessments over the last four years without their knowledge. "… … … " Almost every person entering and leaving the United States by air, sea or land is assessed based on ATS' analysis of their travel records and other data, including items such as where they are from, how they paid for tickets, their motor vehicle records, past one-way travel, seating preference and what kind of meal they ordered." UNQUOTE Ha! Now we know why Molly Meldrum was refused entry! |
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02 Dec 06 - 11:02 PM (#1898787) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: Rapparee Ya know, just because you CAN doesn't automatically mean that you SHOULD. |
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03 Dec 06 - 06:07 PM (#1899128) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: Greg F. Indeed, Kevin- sort of a variation on a theme by Phil Ochs: Well, there really is no need to travel to these evil lands Yes, and though the list grows larger you must try to understand Try hard not to worry if someday you should hear That the whole world is off limits, visit Disneyland this year William Worthy isn't worthy to enter our door Went down to Cuba, he's not American anymore But somehow it is strange to hear the State Department say You are living in the free world, in the free world you must stay |
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03 Dec 06 - 06:59 PM (#1899176) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: dianavan Well, DougR, you don't have to be scared because obviously you have no interest in leaving your totally familiar surroundings. God help the American that travels to other countries to broaden their horizons. If you travel outside the U.S. you may come into contact with journalism instead of propaganda. You might actually hear someone criticize Bush and his policies. God forbid, you might find out that the U.S. is not as free as you think it is. Thats right, DougR, you have nothing to fear so roll over and go back to sleep. |
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03 Dec 06 - 08:04 PM (#1899228) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: The Fooles Troupe Don't worry, comrades, come the Revolution, DougR will be one of the first up against the wall... What's that you say? 1776? Oh shit..... |
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03 Dec 06 - 10:48 PM (#1899308) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: GUEST,.gargoyle There are "Folks" on this board, who never travel more than one state beyound their map's color-zone.
However, given their political view....I am sure that they are under "review."
It is no "secret file" it is something to do in the meanwhile.
Sincerely, |
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04 Dec 06 - 10:19 PM (#1900200) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: GUEST,TIA "Horsepucky!" |
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05 Dec 06 - 05:04 AM (#1900325) Subject: RE: BS: Secret Files on U.S. Travelers Nov 2006 From: Folkiedave IS posting on Mudcat part of the criteria? Should we be told? |