Consumerist
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security theater of the absurd
TSA Takes Baby Away From Mother?
UPDATE: The TSA has posted their CCTV video of the incident from 9 different angles. In the video, the child is never picked up by TSA agents or removed from the mother's sight.
UPDATE 2: Nic responds to the video by saying, "in the video, it looks as though my son is playing happily in his stroller while i am being searched with a wand. obviously this is the big discrepancy with my story, since he was not in my sight at that time, and one that i too am thoroughly looking into. neither of the two phone calls i placed while seated in security are in the video either. what is shown in the video is incomplete as it leaves out when the security agent took my son to a separate area and out of my sight. this matter is one that is being handled between my family and the TSA."
Mommyblogger Nic tells the horrifying story of how TSA agents took away her child because the clip on his pacifier set off the metal detector yesterday. More »
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security theater
What Your Homeland Security Travel File Looks Like
Homeland Security's dossier on all your the travel you've ever taken looks something like this. -
security theater
Homeland Security Boss: Before 9/12/01 Hijackings Were "Regular, Routine"
BoingBoing's Joel Johnson recently interviewed departing Homeland Security boss Michael Chertoff — and we all know how much you love "security theater"... More » -
tsa
TSA Martinet Claims Her Unpublished Rules Trump Real Ones
TSA, can you at least train your agents to do their jobs properly? We'd appreciate it even more if you'd discipline (read: fire) those who go all stupidly power-mad and think they have to "win" every encounter, even when it means making up new rules on the spot. Here's a story of a soldier who lost a day of leave because one of your agents caused so much trouble. In the end, the soldier says he's happy with the outcome—"Using standard Consumerist customer service doctrine (polite, patient, proper channels and then EECB), I won"—but we're still floored by how difficult you made his trip home. Oh, and NWA, you were no help either. More » -
tsa
Things You Should Memorize When Flying Without Identification
You may be familiar with the TSA's new rules that went into effect June 21st regarding travelers who try to fly without identification. These travelers are essentially made part of a mini game show where they are the subject of all the questions. Your prize, if you answer correctly, is that you are allowed to board your flight. If you need to travel without ID, Wired magazine has assembled some items which if committed to memory, might help you get through the (game show) process more easily. More » -
airplane kill switch
Pentagon Looking To Invent "Kill Switch" For Airplanes
It has been nearly 7 years since 9/11 and the government is still pulling ideas out of its ass to help keep us safe. Wired reports that in a request for proposals issued this week, the Pentagon announced that they are looking for ways to "safely divert an aircraft in the air or stop and/or disable an aircraft on the ground," i.e., a kill switch. More, inside... More » -
homeland security
UPS Won't Deliver Woman's Envelope Until She Shows Her Green Card
Caught somewhere between post 9/11 security concerns and personal rights is Cristina Bustos. According to the Palm Beach Post, her relatives from Mexico shipped her an envelope that contains the birth certificates for 2 of her relatives that live in Florida. But instead of receiving the envelope, Cristina, a legal resident, received a phone call saying that her envelope was being detained in Louisville and that "she needs to identify herself further before receiving them." Later, a UPS employee told Christina that she had to email a copy of her green card if she wanted to get her envelope. Details, inside... More » -
homeland security
Court Rules Customs Agents Can Collect Data From Laptops & Cellphones Without Cause
Some visitors and citizens of the United States may be shocked to learn that their computers, cell phones and data devices are now subject to search and data retrieval upon entry into the U.S., even without cause or suspicion. On April 19th, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that all computers and data devices are the same as luggage in that they can be searched without cause, and that all collected data may be stored indefinitely. More, inside... More » -
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incompetence
TSA Traveler Website Exposed Private Citizens To Risk Of ID Theft
The Transportation Security Administration's traveler redress website—which was launched to give travelers a way to get their names removed from the government's toddler-centric no fly list—operated for months without proper security in place, leaving citizens who submitted detailed personal information to it wide open to identity theft. Gee, we're this close to thinking that the TSA is run by a bunch of grotesquely incompetent, slug-like bureaucrats. More » -
airlines
How To Request Your Homeland Security Travel Dosiier
In its efforts to combat terrorism, fight human trafficking, and bust drug dealers, the Department of Homeland Security compiles a large database of where you go, who you travel with, what you read and more. If you're curious about what this record contains, you can request a copy of your file under the Freedom Of Information Act. Unsecure Flight hosts two form letters for submitting this request, along with instructions for doing so.
Read Your Own DHS Travel Dossier [UnSecure Flight] (Thanks to Bill!)
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no-fly list
Howto: Get Your Name Off The No-Fly List
The Department of Homeland Security has finally woken up, and now admits that the No-Fly List has its problems. More » -
privacy
RFID Confuses The US Government
Despite a report by Homeland security, the US is going ahead with plans to put RFID tags in everything from passports to drivers licenses. More » -
new york times
If The Times Is Treason, We're Heresy
The New York Times might be a left-wing propaganda machine hell-bent on sowing villainy and communism amongst the American populace, but treasonous? Well, that's what the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee says, and he wants to see The Old Gray Lady hang for its crimes against The State. More » -
at&t
AT&T Owns Your Booty
In a followup to "AT&T: All Your Phone Are Belong to Us", the SF Gate interviewed some privacy wonks who say: More » -
top
AT&T: All Your Phone Are Belong to Us
If you're an AT&T customer, you have until this Friday to switch. More » -
the news
The News; Fitter, Better, Happier, More Productive
• Goodbye Barbie princess, hello Barbie biatch. [LAT] More » -
complaints
Telemarketers Target Homeland Security
Maybe now they'll crack down on the telemarketers. After all that's the hotline, the hotline for the Department of Homeland Security. Gotta secure the homeland from the Space Invaders and the Centipedes. Not a moment to waste for \time-share condominiums. More » -
dulles
Petty Power Trips at Dulles Airport
With wild googly eyes and a crazy unkempt orange beard, Edward Hasbrouck looks a bit crazy. But not terrorist crazy. Geeky crazy. Actually, he's a very proud American: proud enough to assert his rights in the fear that if he doesn't, he'll lose them. He isn't afraid to question authority. And most importantly, he isn't afraid to question the murky and nebulous "authority" of TSA contractors demanding to see his identification. More »
homeland security
New York, 11:20 PM
Tue Nov 10
22 posts in the last 24 hours
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