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.
Nokia Siemens Network (NSN), a joint venture of Nokia of Finland, and Siemens of Germany, designed and built a telecommunications system for Iran that allows monitoring and interception of communications of Iranians. There are conflicting messages from the company on whether the technology allows for the monitoring of data communications supported by social networking services. NSN's code of conduct commits the company to upholding "freedom from arbitrary detention; execution or torture; freedom of peaceful assembly and association; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and freedom of opinion and expression." However, NSN sales material on the technology sold to Iran claims that it can be used to monitor and intercept "all types of voice and data communication on all networks."
The Transportation Security Administration has replied to the Privacy Coalition statement on whole body imaging systems. The agency claims that the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) provides adequate protection. The Privacy Coalition letter pointed out that "the devices are designed to capture, record, and store detailed images of individuals undressed" and said that "If the public understood this, they would be outraged by the use of these devices by the US government on US citizens." The Privacy Coalition said that the use of the devices should be suspended pending an investigation. The letter was prompted by the TSA's announcement that Whole Body Imaging would replace metal detectors as the primary screening technique at US airports. The House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would establish clear privacy safeguards for the devices.
Monday night Clear ID was shuttered because the parent company could not come to terms with a major creditor. The Clear Registered Traveler Program provided speedy processing through airport security at a cost of $128. Those who registered were given a biometric ID card that could be used to bypass regular security lines. The Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration contracted with Verified Identity Pass, Inc. (VIP), a private company to run the program. VIP reported the theft of a laptop containing registration information from its San Francisco office. The question remains on what will happen the information on thousands of travelers who registered for the program, now that the company has gone out of business.
In June, the Las Vegas Review-Journal published a web article on a federal tax fraud case, that generated lots of reader feedback. A federal grand jury subpoenaed the paper for identifying information on those web users who responded to the newspaper story. The newspaper reported that it would fight the subpoena in court.
The House of Representatives approved by a vote of 310 to 118 a bill that will limit the use of Whole-Body Imaging machines, installed by the Transportation Security Administration, in US airports. The devices photograph American air travelers stripped naked and could easily be programmed to record images. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)sponsored the bill that will prohibit the use of the devices as the sole or primary method of screening aircraft passengers; require that passengers be provided information on the operation of such technology and offered a pat-down search in lieu of such screening; and prohibit the storage of an image of a passenger after a boarding determination is made. Privacy Coalition members supported a campaign to raise public awareness about Whole Body Imaging.
On June 4, 2009, the House of Representatives will vote on an amendment sponsored by Congressman Jason Chaffetz. The amendment prevents the digital strip search of passengers in primary screening, requires the TSA to report to Congress annually, requires clear explanations to passengers on what the technology does and alternative screening options. The amendment must pass the House before it will become part of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Reauthorization Act. The TSA reversed its policy when it announced that Whole Body Imaging would be used to screen of all air passengers. Privacy organizations are working to change the TSA's policy on the use of digital strip searches.
