Finally? Yes, almost a year ago I wrote an article here on ITS Tactical where I said that Airport Security needed to be “Israelified.”
Last month we got the word that the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) would be screening passenger behavior at Boston Logan Airport. I’m really glad and also surprised to see the TSA institute this, as it’s certainly profiling and something I never thought the government would have the backbone to implement.
The profiling is part of a $1 Billion national program called SPOT (Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques) and trains TSA screeners to ask passengers non-intrusive questions to see how they respond. Suspicious or anxious behavior, like avoiding eye contact and searching for answers will warrant additional screening.
While the program is still in its pilot phase, I feel it’s certainly a step in the right direction. I still feel we need to do even more to model our airport security after Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, but profiling is a step in the right direction.
What’s your opinion? Do you agree that we need to Israelify our Airport Security even further?