In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security is readying to take the reins of the so-called “no-fly” or “terrorist watch” list – a secret list maintained by the U.S. government of individuals not permitted to fly on commercial aircraft due to terrorist or criminal activities or leanings.

Delaying passengers through security

To make it look as though they will actually be able to use it for something productive (other than delaying the passengers whose names unfortunately resemble the names presently on it), they have announced that airlines will require gender and date-of-birth (DOB) information.

I think this is ridiculous and just ridiculous enough that Europe will most likely soon follow suit.

Already have access to this information

To check in and get a boarding pass, I must use a credit card or some kind of photo identification. When travelling internationally, when the no-fly list is considered important, I must show my passport. Even checking in at home for a local hop requires you to use a credit card in your own name.

No explanation

Any one of these has information about my gender and DOB. How does my being asked the information in person actually help? I’ve yet to see a single news story to explain why providing this information will assist the TSA or the Department of Homeland Security vet the list.

Even when I consider the fact that I’m checking in for my son, I don’t see a point. Given that he’s four years old, I would hope that TSA might give him the benefit of the doubt concerning his terrorist leanings. At least until he gets his own American Express card.

Not going to shorten delays

In a Washington Post article discussing this change; TSA says that “adding full names, gender and birth dates will allow 99% of travellers to avoid delays.” How so? The U.S. government estimates this list at fewer than 2,500 individuals with an additional 16,000 as potential threats.

The majority of these persons, of course, are not U.S. citizens and are already having to provide a valid passport. But beyond that, I still have to go through security – ensuring that all of my toiletries are under 100 mL and fit into a quart-sized Ziploc, my shoes are removed and my stroller wanded.

If this information is required to receive a boarding pass, I’ll just have to spend more time in line to check in with a sentient being because current kiosks aren’t set up to collect it. Maybe the road warrior will see some benefit but families with children are probably looking at much longer waits to get a boarding pass.

Where does it end?

Now you ask me for gender and birth information. But is that really enough to cross-reference? And if not, how long until I have to start providing information about race, birthmarks, tattoos or other identifying markers just so I can hop the Atlantic? And what guarantees do I have about the security of all this information?

No evidence that the no-fly list offers us any protection

Is any wanted man worth his salt really going to use his own name, credit card or passport when he flies? Sure, British citizen Richard Reid, the so-called shoe-bomber, used his own name on a flight from Paris to the States.

Note that he wasn’t denied a boarding card – up-and-coming terrorists won’t likely be on the list.

I’m not sure that I really believe that “profiling” or the no-fly list is keeping air travel any safer. It may make us think so – and I suppose one could argue that that is the most important thing. But I still think that truly random checks are the way to go.

What do you think? Are programs like this one and the British E-Borders really helping to keep passengers safe? Or is simply lip service that will result in more irritating international travel?

• Increased security for Irish visitors to the USA
• Bomb threat foiled at UK airports
• Passport data security for e-Borders programme
• Lack of credit card security when booking hotels online
• Loosing Your Passport could Lead to Identity Theft

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