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Starting next year, an estimated 2.7 million truckers who haul hazardous materials will pay around $100 a piece for their background screening. They may get more for their money than they expect.
The $105 fee, proposed in the Federal Register on Nov. 10, covers the cost of collecting fingerprints, an FBI screening and a "threat assessment fee."
Currently the "threat assessment" is limited to checking names and DOB against terrorist watch lists.
But in '05, the TSA looks to be expanding the check to use commercial, intelligence and international databases to determine a trucker's terrorist score, even if the person does not appear on a watchlist.
I do not know, but assume this is the same link-analysis process the TSA wanted to use to screen every airline passenger.
The problem comes when someone disputes the assessment.
With a name-based system, it is relatively easy (though not perfect), to prove that you are not the David Nelson they want.
But when you lose your HazMat license because a computer system decided you are risky based on whether you live with or near someone in an intelligence database, how can you contest it?
The TSA can not tell you why (that would reveal investigative method) or tell you who in your life made them suspicious (compromising an intelligence operation).
While the technological promise of link-analytics (.pdf) is great for law enforcement and intelligence, it's less clear that it is appropriate technology to use to make decisions about someone's right to travel or to work.
Posted by Ryan Singel at November 11, 2004 02:49 PM
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