Mel,
I'm in total agreement with you. And that is the natural chain of protocol that would take place. It would be for the purposes of coming and leaving. The information stored would not have anything more than what information is gathered when we apply for jobs in this country (background check for offenses and misdemeanors, etc.). What we all fear is the feeling that our PERSONAL information would be accessed by such airport personel. Which wouldn't be the case. The only information to be made available would be that which is already public.
Camo,
I agree. I'm sure that much like the "randomly selected" security scrutiny would be negated. There wouldn't be any reason to select such people if we had the fingerprint security analysis. Everyone would equally be checked for "terrorist ties" or "negative checkmarks".
Good Conversations.
Ryan M. Rodriguez
Reply to this Hello Ryan 😊
I snipped the url from your post. If you feel it is something which would be useful to the members of this site and is travel related you can make a thread for it in the following forum.
Other links forum
Please note that anything which is considered spam will be deleted from the Other Links Forum.
Mel
Reply to this I avoid travel in the USA - even transit - because of the unfriendly time consuming nature of the security measures.
Missed connections due to 3hr long queues are not pleasant.
I accept that if I travel across a border then the rules of that country have to be respected. But I too have an intense dislike of fingerprinting - what happens to the data?
Concerns I have are;
- fingerprints are unique - but how many points are they mapping? - these points on a large enough scale are not unique - a false positive is then possible.
- identity theft - when fingerprints are used for security for everything - someone could either electronically or physically simulate a fingerprint security check - I don't want my fingerprints on their database (too late!)
But most of all - these people are obnoxious - I don't want anything to do with them if at all possible - do they go to special classes to learn how to be really unpleasant? - or is it part of the job requirement?
In Asia - I accidentally left a leatherman knife in my guitar case (changed the strings the day before) - it was found at security - I thought that was it - the knife cost more than the flight! But no, the security called over an airline representative - who ran down to checkin, who delivered it to the baggage handlers and I found my knife in the top pocket of my backpack when I reclaimed it later... that's how it should be done! - maybe a small fine to cover the additional expense of it ($10 stupidity tax) - but not a smug turd dropping it into a bin trying to make you feel stupid - it is an easy mistake.
I think a vast part of the security measures in the name of the "War on Terror" is to get the masses used to being treated like criminals - so that they can gradually erase more of our civil liberties with less resistance.
Reply to this Camo, yes, terrorists don't 'look' like terrorists and suicide bombers wouldn't care less about being fingerprinted before they are about to blow themselves up! Such measures would not have prevented '9/11' as the hijackers were legally resident within the USA already and had their fingerprints been taken on arrival, they wouldn't have flashed up 'terrorist' either. They couldn't have carried out any previous suicide attacks after all.
Ali, I agree entirely with your last statement and you are also spot on about identity theft. Fingerprint and DNA data can be sold on or just lost. As we leave these data wherever we go then we could find ourselves wrongly suspected of a crime that has taken place after we have been there.
I've already had personal data 'lost' by DVLA, but as that wasn't linked to any other database, eg NI number, NHS number, UK passport number or bank details, never mind fingerprints or DNA, then the risk of ID theft was low. As I have an Irish passport, which I have recently renewed, as well as UK one, which I am not going to, then I have not 'volunteered' to go on the National Identity Register, where all these data would be stored together, ideal for ID theft!
Reply to this "They can't just scan certain people who look like arabs or are suspicious people because that would be a huge case of discrimination, wouldn't it?" Border security people the world over "profile" people on just that kind of basis and treat them accordingly.
I'm with Paul... I won't travel to the US, (though many of the inhabitants are nice) because its just not that appealing and its paranoia is one of the unappealing things. So the new border security is just another reason for me not going. They probably wouldn't want an old lefty like me anyhow!
Reply to this Indeed...US is getting less and less friendly...2 years ago, we (French nationals) had to upgrade our passports in order to still be able to enter US without a visa and now US is about to enforce new regulations... we will need to 'apply' via internet for authorization to enter the US territory prior to flying there...So, they are basically putting the visa back, only this time it is free (for now..) and electronic...
Reply to this The US' new regulations aren't a new form of visa, they are just the same details you would give at the airport anyway but just a few days in advanced.
Reply to this Actually, you are right, this should not be called a visa as such but an advanced registration (3 days prior) with the right on US side not to grant authorization to enter the US territory (just like they are entitled to when you reach the border)
Technically speaking, this will quikly become a nightmare for last minute trip/ transit through US...what happen if you havent filled the form 3 days prior? Been trying to look for info but so far couldnt find any...
and obviously not even mentioning that this does not apply to US citizens traveling overseas to the very same country as the one who had to change their passport and now pre register prior to leave for US...
I understand US security concerns but really dont see how this will help to prevent "clean skins" terrorists from entering the US territory and might remove emphasis on the face to face questionaire,
Reply to this Laititia you bring up a good point. I used to work in a corporate setting where people were having to travel at the last minute all the time. It was an international company with branches all over the world, and they often got only a couple of day notice if that. I guess leisure travelers can just make sure to plan ahead, but it could have a much bigger impact for people traveling for business. I think it would be pretty hard to look like a terrorist on paper, unless you were really not smart about it. I guess it gives the US time to process your information so that you don't even bother to go to the airport if you know you will be denied (instead of not knowing until you get there). As i've stated before, I think security and safety are great things, but i forsee it going too far if it's not there already in some places.
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