Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Serious Bugs Have to be Worked Out of Homeland Security's Computer Screening Plan
Aired February 12, 2004 - 05:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It may be a while before you have to worry about being judged by the airlines as a possible terrorist. The General Accounting Office says some serious bugs have to be worked out of Capps II. That's homeland security's computer screening plan.
More details now from CNN's Jeanne Meserve.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Capps II was intended to weed out terrorists, but may not work if key issues aren't addressed, according to a draft report from the General Accounting Office. Under the system, airline passengers would provide their name, home address and phone number and date of birth. After a check against commercial and government databases, the passenger's flight risk would be scored.
The report says the inability to gather data on non-U.S. citizens would hamper the effectiveness of the entire system and that winning international cooperation is a substantial challenge, given other countries' laws and civil liberties concerns. The report also says Capps II may not spot identity theft in cases where it has not been reported or where someone has allowed their identity to be used.
Opponents say the report validates their concerns.
JAY STANLEY, ACLU: Even if you are somebody who's willing to give up all your privacy for safety on an airplane, you still shouldn't support this program, because it's just not going to work.
MESERVE: The GAO says the Transportation Security Administration has not completely addressed seven of eight issues raised by Congress, including the accuracy of the databases it will use; a way for passengers to correct inaccurate information; the effectiveness of the system's search tools; and systems to protect against hackers and other abuse.
(on camera): The Department of Homeland Security says its grade should be incomplete. The reason? Privacy concerns have kept the airlines from giving the government the passenger information it needs to test the system to see if it works or not.
Jean Meserve, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Computer Screening Plan>
Aired February 12, 2004 - 05:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It may be a while before you have to worry about being judged by the airlines as a possible terrorist. The General Accounting Office says some serious bugs have to be worked out of Capps II. That's homeland security's computer screening plan.
More details now from CNN's Jeanne Meserve.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Capps II was intended to weed out terrorists, but may not work if key issues aren't addressed, according to a draft report from the General Accounting Office. Under the system, airline passengers would provide their name, home address and phone number and date of birth. After a check against commercial and government databases, the passenger's flight risk would be scored.
The report says the inability to gather data on non-U.S. citizens would hamper the effectiveness of the entire system and that winning international cooperation is a substantial challenge, given other countries' laws and civil liberties concerns. The report also says Capps II may not spot identity theft in cases where it has not been reported or where someone has allowed their identity to be used.
Opponents say the report validates their concerns.
JAY STANLEY, ACLU: Even if you are somebody who's willing to give up all your privacy for safety on an airplane, you still shouldn't support this program, because it's just not going to work.
MESERVE: The GAO says the Transportation Security Administration has not completely addressed seven of eight issues raised by Congress, including the accuracy of the databases it will use; a way for passengers to correct inaccurate information; the effectiveness of the system's search tools; and systems to protect against hackers and other abuse.
(on camera): The Department of Homeland Security says its grade should be incomplete. The reason? Privacy concerns have kept the airlines from giving the government the passenger information it needs to test the system to see if it works or not.
Jean Meserve, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Computer Screening Plan>
