Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

bigstory.ap.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 52 posts

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

#12

Post by chimeracoder »

tommoor wrote: post #6

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_...

Israel openly practices racial profiling of passengers[0], something which is not legal in the US (which must instead practice it in secret)[1][2].

I would not want to use Israel's security procedures as a model for the US for a number of reasons - the unabashed racial profiling is one, but a more basic reason is the fact that Israel faces a very real and direct threat, whereas the TSA itself admits that there is no threat of terrorism in the US[3].

[0] From a Jewish publication: "Arab passengers, or non-Jews, for example, are routinely subjected to greater questioning than are Israeli Jews. " http://www.cjp.org/page.aspx?id=218685

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/us/racial-profiling-at-bos...

[2]Officially, this was ended a few months ago in Israel (http://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2014-03-26/israel-ends-bla...) - it remains to be seen whether or not this has truly been ended in practice

[3] http://tsaoutofourpants.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/tsa-admits-...

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

#13

Post by rb2k_ »

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…

Actually, in the line that I usually wait for to be finger printed and photographed, there are signs everywhere telling you to NOT use a cellphone.

Seeing as it can take up to an hour, most people would probably love to do so.

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

#14

Post by jimktrains2 »

jliechti1 wrote: post #4

"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.

And this is why it pisses me off that the TSA (I'm only guessing someone official is controlling the account, even if not Mr. Feinstien)responded to my bitching by saying it's only international.

https://twitter.com/TSAmedia_RossF/status/485964450441072640

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

#17

Post by chrismorgan »

ixwt wrote: post #16
chrismorgan wrote: post #7

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

> It says devices that won't power up won't be allowed on planes, and those travelers may have to undergo additional screening. Better bring your charger.

But what’s the probability they’ll let you use it?

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

#18

Post by pigDisgusting »

Except last time I checked, possession of a mobile device is not required by law? So, what the fuck.

  Not to mention: [
       
      "the battery's dead and the proprietary charger
      is stuck in checked baggage", "whoops i lost the 
      battery", "whoops i dropped the phone and now it 
      is broken", "whoops cannot power on without 
      password for encryption", "aw shucks my phone is 
      keister stashed so come get it big boy", "hello 
      look at this childrens toy which very closely 
      resembles a cellular phone ha ha", "gee why does 
      this powered on mobile device emit far more radio 
      spectrum energy than expected even though i am 
      usually a law abiding citizen?"
      
  ]

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

#19

Post by weeder »

pigDisgusting wrote: post #18

Except last time I checked, possession of a mobile device is not required by law? So, what the fuck. Not to mention: [ "the battery's dead and the proprietary charger is stuck in checked baggage", "whoops i lost the battery", "whoops i dropped the phone and now it is broken", "whoops cannot power on without password for encryption", "aw shucks my phone is keister stashed so come get it big boy", "hello look at this c…

    var terroristWarningFlags = // sarcasm...?
Either way, with the TSA you don't win with reason or truth.
Post reply on HN