'Pioneers Get the Arrows' -- and Delta's Pioneering With TSA is Drawing Fire

There's a new website afloat, targeting Delta Air Lines, citing the onerous CAPPS II profiling system that's soon to be forced down our throats by the TSA. It mentions the intrusive invasions of privacy the TSA is mandating, as it builds a database on all Americans -- we're all suspects, now -- as we attempt to fly around the country.

We didn't know why this particular bunch of folks was targeting Delta, specifically; we e-mailed them, to find out -- their reply is below. However, we're concerned that the group's justifiable anger is being misdirected: the TSA and its tactics are authorized and funded by Congress. Perhaps those two entities -- TSA and Congress -- should be 'boycotted,' rather than any specific airline. Or maybe...

What did Delta say?

We wondered, though, if Delta were doing anything different, anything worse, than the TSA's mandate. We called their offices, and spoke with spokeswoman Peggy Estes. She told us, "We are aware of the [boycottdelta.org] website, and we take it very seriously. We've received a few dozen inquiries [from people who have seen it], and we've forwarded them to the TSA."

As to whether the TSA should be getting this flack, rather than Delta, she wouldn't say: "We can only confirm our involvement; any further information would have to come from the TSA. I don't have specifics on exactly what the TSA is requiring us to do."

Whatever that is, you can bet Delta is doing it. The question is, 'just Delta?'

An official Delta statement on the CAPPS II program is worth repeating: "CAPPS II is a federal program administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as a result of the heightened threat of terrorism to our country. Delta's role in the CAPPS II program will be limited to providing data to the TSA that Delta already collects from passengers as part of our normal reservations and ticketing process. The security of Delta's passengers and safeguarding passenger information remains a top priority." [Note: those 'data' could be nearly nothing. A passenger can still buy a ticket for cash, showing only a valid ID --ed.]

Delta added,

• Delta is not running credit or background checks on customers
• Delta is not directing or supervising the CAPPS II program
• The TSA has the legal power and authority to require Delta to provide passenger data [Delta did not say whether the TSA had invoked that power and authority, or whether the airline had volunteered --ed.]
  

Why Delta? The 'Boycott' Group Answered.

We asked www.boycottdelta.org, and they answered: "If you are wondering why we have chosen to fight CAPPS II by boycotting [Delta], here are the reasons:

1. You can't fight City Hall/TSA;
2. Lockheed-Martin, the software supplier/contractor, produces no consumer goods that we're aware of;
3. Delta is on its own testing this program;
4. The executive branch of government is VERY sensitive to corporate pressure and industry concerns.
5. Applying market pressure to Delta is the best way to stop CAPPS II. A Delta boycott punishes them for collaborating as a tester, the only airline to do so, in CAPPS II. By making the test fail, we can (hopefully) kill off the entire program.

...and the TSA said:

We called the TSA, to hear if Delta were indeed, unique in the application of CAPPS II, and, if so, if Delta had indeed volunteered for that distinction.

Robert Johnson, the Director of Communications at the TSA, told us, "Delta isn't using CAPPS II -- there is no such thing as CAPPS II -- yet. What we are doing with Delta is testing, behind the scenes, away from passengers, the infrastructure. We're examining connectivity -- we will not be screening passengers using the concept of CAPPS II during this pilot program." [The pilot program started March 1, and runs for 120 days.]

Mr. Johnson assured us, "It has absolutely no impact on people who fly Delta."

Did Delta volunteer?

Johnson wouldn't say Delta volunteered, exactly. What said was, "Delta is the only airline that is working with TSA on this test, at this time. We found we could work behind the scenes with them, to develop a program that will be used by all airlines, perhaps by the end of the year."

What about passenger data?

The TSA's top communicator would not tell us whether any passenger data are being transfered to TSA; he would say only, "Passengers would not be affected in any way, during the pilot." Readers are left to make their own conclusions.

As for the "Boycott Delta" group: "That effort is truly an overreaction; it's totally unnecessary," Mr. Johnson said.

FMI: www.tsa.gov; www.delta.com; www.boycottdelta.org