TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#1

Post by juliann » Sun, Jul 06, 2014, 11:57 PM UTC

TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones
bigstory.ap.org

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#2

Post by LammyL » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 1:29 AM UTC

Can't the TSA just do what the Canadians do and swab electronics and use the ion scanner?

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#3

Post by imchillyb » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 1:31 AM UTC

This has to be one of the silliest moves yet.

What a monstrous waste the TSA is. A waste in resources better utilized elsewhere.

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#4

Post by jliechti1 » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 1:54 AM UTC

"TSA will not disclose which airports will be conducting the additional screening, although it will be at some airports with direct flights to the U.S. Industry data show that more than 250 foreign airports offer nonstop service to the U.S."

Prediction: after some time, they will just roll out this policy everywhere - including US domestic airports.

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#5

Post by steve19 » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 1:54 AM UTC

I assume this is so they can log cell phone/tablet IMEI numbers and/or MAC addresses at the airport while the foreigners queue to be finger printed and photographed?

If they log the IMEI they can track most foreigners as they move around the country. Even if they are not bringing sim cards, the phones will still try to connect to a local network to allow emergency calls.

Or maybe so they can confiscate and download the contents of electronics devices quickly with as little delay as possible (it can take 5-10+ minutes before a completely dead smartphone has enough charge to complete a boot up).

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#6

Post by tommoor » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 2:03 AM UTC

They do this at Ben Gurion Airport too - make you turn on all your electronics, the Israeli airports are praised for their security procedures - right?

eg: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/23/airport-security_n_...

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#7

Post by chrismorgan » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 2:09 AM UTC

I wonder what will be done in the case of laptops with dead/no batteries.

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#8

Post by userbinator » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 2:10 AM UTC

Duplicate: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7996380

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#9

Post by err4nt » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 2:11 AM UTC

LammyL wrote: post #2

Can't the TSA just do what the Canadians do and swab electronics and use the ion scanner?

If explosives were what they were really searching for you would be absolutely correct.

Re: TSA: Some on US-bound flights must turn on phones

#10

Post by pudquick » Mon, Jul 07, 2014, 2:11 AM UTC

steve19 wrote: post #5

I assume this is so they can log cell phone/tablet IMEI numbers and/or MAC addresses at the airport while the foreigners queue to be finger printed and photographed? If they log the IMEI they can track most foreigners as they move around the country. Even if they are not bringing sim cards, the phones will still try to connect to a local network to allow emergency calls. Or maybe so they can confiscate and download t…

Then include your device, powered on in airplane mode, in an easy to reach pocket.

Easy to prove it's on, just don't take it out of airplane mode until you arrive at your destination. In flight you could power it off & back on before touchdown to preserve battery.