June 29, 2009

House Committee Investigates Clear Registered Traveler Program

The House Homeland Security Committee sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration regarding the bankruptcy of Verified Identity Pass, the parent company for the Clear registered traveler (RT) program. Clear was the largest RT program in the nation operating out of 20 airports with about 165,000 members. The TSA established RT security, privacy and compliance standards for the Clear program and bolstered the company's credentials with the traveling public. The Clear RT application process collected a great deal of personal information from members, such as proof of legal name, data of birth, citizenship status, home address, place of birth, gender, fingerprints, and eye scans. The information was used to pre-screen travelers for express service through airport security checkpoints. Bankruptcy can raise questions about the value of customer data to creditors seeking funds to pay off debit. Examples include: Dr. Koop.com, Egghead.com and Toysmart.