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Immortal Technique
01-25-2011, 07:14 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKB-kBr1dFk

Airing Date Jan.25, 2011

ABC Reports On TSA Behaviour Detection Officers

Better hope you don't have a natural angry facial expression when you go to an airport near you.I've been told i have a some what natural angry look on my face, where as i am most generally happy going.

Romulus
01-26-2011, 11:53 AM
Look, Israel style profiling! Isn't that great...

jmdrake
01-26-2011, 12:30 PM
Look, Israel style profiling! Isn't that great...

So called "conservatives" have been touting Israeli style profiling as a "common sense alternative" to the porn scans and pat downs. The only problem is that it doesn't work!

Sadly some here have fallen for that crap. The argument goes "Israel hasn't had a plane to blow up in years". But then neither has the U.S. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/19/eveningnews/main6500349.shtml)

TSA's Program to Spot Terrorists a $200M Sham?
Gov't Accountability Office Finds Army of Specially Trained "Behavior Detection" Agents Failed to Stop Terrorists

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By Armen Keteyian

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* A still from a TSA training program for _behavioral screening_ of terrorists. The program has a $200 million a year price tag and 3,000 specially-trained employees but has never caught a single terrorist, according to the GAO.

A still from a TSA training program for "behavioral screening" of terrorists. The program has a $200 million a year price tag and 3,000 specially-trained employees but has never caught a single terrorist, according to the GAO. (CBS)

* Stories
* What Does a Terrorist Look Like?
* Expert: TSA Screening Is Security Theater

(CBS) Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad was arrested after he boarded a plane headed for Dubai, though the government is spending millions each year on a program that's supposed to spot terrorists before they reach the gate. As CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports, the program doesn't seem to be working.

There's a hidden layer of airport security most people don't know about. It's called "behavior detection," and involves specially trained Transportation Security Administration employees whose primary mission is to spot terrorists.

They look for unique facial expressions and body language that may identify a potential threat. About 3,000 of these officers work at 161 U.S. airports -- costing taxpayers nearly $200 million in 2009. This year, the TSA asked Congress for $20 million more to expand the program.

60 Minutes: Expert Says TSA Screening Is Theater

But CBS News has learned that the program is failing to catch terrorists. It's never even caught one.

In fact, sources tell CBS News a Government Accountability Office investigation is raising serious questions about the program.

The GAO uncovered at least 16 individuals later accused of involvement in terrorist plots flew 23 different times through U.S. airports since 2004. Yet none were stopped by TSA behavior detection officers working at those airports.

"It's a disgrace," said aviation security analyst Charles Slepian. "Why didn't they stop them? If it worked, you would catch them."

Scientists are split over whether it's even possible to recognize terrorists simply by behavior detection. A 2008 report found no evidence it works.

"TSA is doing a number of things in the area of behavior detection and I personally think that some of them are shams," said Stephen Fienberg, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

In a statement Wednesday, the TSA called the program a "vital layer" of security, "based in science," that has resulted in more than 1,700 arrests for "illegal activities" like drug smuggling.

The report based on the GAO investigation is due out Thursday. It will recommend across-the-board improvements in the program - ones the TSA is expected to accept.

Kludge
01-26-2011, 12:35 PM
Haha, the last time I flew to DC I was worried I was giving away some sort of "terrorist" vibe so I tried really hard to look utterly indifferent. I was behind an Arab guy and I waited a few minutes to create a buffer zone so it didn't look like I was trying to use him as a distraction. Then I was freaking out trying to decide if I should look the officer scanning my ID and self or not because I really had to get where I was going. The guy kept staring at me so I looked down and to the left. FUUUCK. - But I was allowed through. Man, if someone was watching me on camera, though, I was acting so out-of-the-ordinary...

Danke
01-26-2011, 01:02 PM
Haha, the last time I flew to DC I was worried I was giving away some sort of "terrorist" vibe so I tried really hard to look utterly indifferent. I was behind an Arab guy and I waited a few minutes to create a buffer zone so it didn't look like I was trying to use him as a distraction. Then I was freaking out trying to decide if I should look the officer scanning my ID and self or not because I really had to get where I was going. The guy kept staring at me so I looked down and to the left. FUUUCK. - But I was allowed through. Man, if someone was watching me on camera, though, I was acting so out-of-the-ordinary...

I've informed them to always waive you through, that you are harmless.

Amy on the other hand, full pat down.

hazek
01-26-2011, 01:10 PM
This is such a stupid waste of money. Micro expressions show up only when the person actually experiences an emotion. So for instance a suicide bomber could be standing there being sad or happy or whatever because he knows what he will do in 30min and he isn't going to get noticed. But then right before he decides to blow himself up and probably feels anger, or anxiety or contempt, only then the warning signs of eminent violence would be present and even if he is spotted I'm pretty sure it would already be too late.

EDIT: I could be wrong on this since I'm basing most of this info on an episode of Lie to me which dealt with the exact same issue but from what I understand they are pretty portraying this science pretty accurately, I hope :P