The 'Boycott Delta' Guy Is Back At It, as TSA Tests Spy Network

Bill Scannell, the guy who exposed Delta's (and later, Song's) complicity with the TSA and Department of Homeland Security in gathering passenger data, as the feds tested their latest profiling spyware (CAPPS II), has let us know that the program is back in 'beta' mode. He wrote us, "The idea of citizens' having to undergo a background investigation simply to travel in his or her own country is invasive and un-American. The CAPPS II system goes far beyond what any thinking citizen of this country should consider reasonable. That citizens will be required to provide detailed personal information to private companies that can be used for tracking and marketing purposes is repugnant."

Boycott?

His idea is as old as unionization, and has worked for centuries: "If enough people refuse to conduct business with Galileo or any of its sister companies," he said, "then it is likely that other Computerized Reservation Systems (CRS) will refuse to implement this sadly misguided and anti-democratic program." To that end, he's calling for a boycott of Galileo and Cendant: "The boycott will remain in full effect until Galileo publicly withdraws from any involvement with the testing of CAPPS II."

Interestingly, the DHS says it will post letters from those who disagree with their spying. Here's the email address, for your comment [...and to open your own personal government file, and to get yourself on an IRS audit list, and to... naw, we're just paranoid, right? OK -- we're paranoid; you go tell them --ed.]: privacy@dhs.gov

FMI: www.dontspyon.us; www.tsa.gov