http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/04/tsa-s-behavior-profiling-lacks -scientific-basis-gao-finds.html
TSA's Behavior Profiling Lacks Scientific Basis, GAO Finds Individuals implicated in six terrorist plots made their way through checkpoints, report says 04/06/2011 | Truman Lewis | ConsumerAffairs.com photoComplaints about the full-body scans conducted by <http://www.tsa.gov/> Transportation Security Agency (TSA) agents are common. But most of us pay little attention to something that's almost as important to airline security - the TSA's behavior detection program, known as SPOT. The <http://www.gao.gov/> Government Accountability Office (GAO) found in May 2010 that the TSA had deployed the program without determining whether there was a scientifically valid basis for it, and the latest report finds not much has changed, DC Insider <http://www.dcinsider.com/gao-still-little-science-behind-tsas-profiling/> reports. Using SPOT, TSA agents are supposed to be able to spot potential hijackers and terrorists using "behavior detection principles." But the GAO found that there is no scientific consensus on whether behavior detection principles can be reliably used for counterterrorism purposes. In other words, no one can really say whether the program works. Oh well, there were those six terrorist plots. Say what? Yes, GAO says that individuals allegedly involved in six terrorist plots successfully made their way through SPOT airports. No other information about those plots was provided but GAO noted that it recommended in May 2010 that TSA study the feasibility of using airport video recordings of the behaviors exhibited by persons transiting airport checkpoints who were later charged with or pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offenses. GAO said such recordings could provide insights about behaviors that may be common among terrorists or - on the other hand - could demonstrate that terrorists do not generally display any identifying behaviors. TSA agreed and in March 2011 reported that it is "exploring ways to better utilize such recordings." No word yet on the results of that exploration. <http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/04/tsa-s-behavior-profiling-lack s-scientific-basis-gao-finds.html> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
