TSA’s Secret Behavior Checklist to Spot Terrorists (Don't yawn)

[zappaman]

The checklist is part of TSA’s controversial program to identify potential terrorists based on behaviors that it thinks indicate stress or deception — known as the Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques, or SPOT. The program employs specially trained officers, known as Behavior Detection Officers, to watch and interact with passengers going through screening.

The document listing the criteria, known as the “Spot Referral Report,” is not classified, but it has been closely held by TSA and has not been previously released. A copy was provided to The Intercept by a source concerned about the quality of the program.

The checklist ranges from the mind-numbingly obvious, like “appears to be in disguise,” which is worth three points, to the downright dubious, like a bobbing Adam’s apple. Many indicators, like “trembling” and “arriving late for flight,” appear to confirm allegations that the program picks out signs and emotions that are common to many people who fly.



More at link
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/03/27/revealed-tsas-closely-held-behavior-checklist-spot-terrorists/

[RKP5637]

1. Posting about TSA.

[HassleCat]

12. Stupid, Right?

Wow! How dumb! Stupid TSA! Using a blockhead checklist to spot terrorists!

OK, well, I used to work for TSA, so I know there's a little more to it than that. In fact, there's a lot more to it than that. Yes, those behaviors may get you pulled aside for extra attention. And, if you look closely, you may see TSA officers with their hands behind their backs, counting points on their fingers as they watch someone. But they don't rely on that checklist exclusively. If they did, it would be easy to sail right through, just by not exhibiting any of the behaviors on the list. But it's not as easy as that. There are other behaviors that are subconscious, and much harder to control. You make certain cues with gestures, facial expressions, body language, etc. that you don't even know you're making. TSA officers can recognize these.

I know it's fun to pick on TSA. The job is low paying and low status. I think a janitor in a federal office building makes more than a beginning TSA officer. I see all sorts of "libertarian" guys making video recordings of TSA officers and pointing out how stupid they are. Fun to pick on the little people, isn't it? The punch line is usually (1) this proves the government can't do anything right and we should do this via private enterprise, (2) we need to do racial and religious profiling, or (3) it's a useless waste of tax dollars and we should just forget about screening airline passengers and return to the good old days of individual liberty. Wrong on all counts, for a variety of reasons. Yes, some of it is "security theater," but security theater has a deterrent effect because criminals and terrorists have a hard time distinguishing between what measures might actually get them caught, and which are mostly window dressing.

I'm not criticizing people for thinking TSA is populated by a bunch of uneducated losers who couldn't get jobs flipping burgers. At some airports, that's absolutely accurate. But it's interesting to note how everybody is a "security expert" when it comes to critiquing TSA. If I walked into your workplace and started pointing out all the things you were doing wrong, what reaction would you have? If you think TSA is doing many things wrong, you are correct. If you think you know exactly what they're doing right, and exactly what they're doing wrong, you're nowhere near as smart as you think you are.

[RKP5637]

13. Interesting post! Thanks! n/t

[Wellstone ruled]

14. As you say,

love the shit coming from the Idiot Patrol who think these guys and gals have it made. If it is so easy,why do the TSO's in some markets travel in pairs for their safety. And,I agree,the pay sucks for what they are expected to do. You never hear a peep about all the guns and other shit they collect in one shift. The old NRA would have a hissy-fit.

[niyad]

2. how to spot a terrorist.

hmm, I could be yawning because I didn't get any sleep worrying about flying, and the stupid tsa.

hmm, I could just really be annoyed about the wasteful, excessive screening nonsense.

hmm, I could be "excessively" clearing my throat because the air is dry, or because I have some respiratory issues, like allergies to the stupidity of tsa.

hmm, I could have widely staring eyes because of the drops I used, or because that last eyelift was a bit excessive, or because I really hate flying.

hmm, I could be wearing improper attire for location (emily post has not yet indicated what is appropriate attire for being treated like a terrorist), or perhaps I dressed for my arrival location.

hmm, maybe I am whistling to keep from being nervous about flying, or because I just like to whistle, or because some damned ear worm is making me nuts.

hmm, maybe my exaggerated grooming efforts are because I know that my hair is flying everywhere, or because my makeup is running in the heat, or. . . .

hmm, perhaps I shaved my beard because it is no longer winter and I want to feel the sun, or because the beard just doesn't go with my pink sundress.

hmmm, perhaps I am wringing my hands to keep from throttling the idiot tsa jerk, or because I had too much caffeine before arriving here.

[zappaman]

4. All valid reasons for exhibiting that behaviour...

if you're a TERRORIST!

[niyad]

6. oh, my, that is an oldie!!

[niyad]

3. years ago, some clown managed to get a whole bunch of money out of various police departments

by writing a little handbook on how to spot satanists.

it included such helpful identifiers as: having candles, incense, mortars and pestles, pictures or statues of unicorns or fairies or other mythical beings.

[zappaman]

5. wtf?

so this shirt...



says "terrorism"?

[niyad]

7. satanists, anyway.

[Revanchist]

8. That advice sounds as sound as this advice on identifying witches

[niyad]

9. ah, that does bring back memories.

[Fred Sanders]

11. It's a witch, it's a whistling witch... We must do a TSA secondary inspection on the witch! Get out the rubber gloves!

[Fred Sanders]

10. Whistling? When approaching security clearance? Behavior Detection Officers....made me laugh.

Who isn't a Behavior Detection Officer?

[salib]

15. Love the beard one

Because, you know, all those terrists normally have beards (nudge nudge, wink wink, are Muslim).

Know what I mean, know what I mean!?

[Godhumor]

16. A good chunk of that list is adapted from the Israeli guide to spotting suicide bombers

Including improper attire, recently shaved, nervousness, the awkward attempts at fitting in and the staring eyes.