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CNN Live Saturday
Security Vs. Privacy: Database Debate
Aired January 24, 2004 - 12:43 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, security versus privacy. That was the issue on the table this week as federal officials met with airline executives over a controversial computer assistant passenger screening program.
CNN's Elaine Quijano reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an idea that some air travelers say makes sense -- turning over personal information to the government in the name of security.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My privacy does nothing for me if I'm dead.
QUIJANO: But to others, it's an unwarranted intrusion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Security comes first. But there's a point we have to draw a line as to how much information do you want from us.
QUIJANO: Where to draw that line was one of the reasons federal officials met with airline executives this week in Washington. The goal? To reach an agreement on a planned computer assisted passenger screening program. Both sides called the meeting positive.
Still, the airlines say if the government wants passengers' information, that will only happen one way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not going to volunteer the information. There will have to be a requirement imposed upon our companies by the government.
QUIJANO: The airlines have been under pressure from privacy advocates. Just this week, after Northwest Airlines acknowledged giving the government passenger information, privacy advocates hit the airline with two lawsuits and a federal complaint, one saying Northwest's conduct constituted "a highly offensive and dangerous invasion of privacy."
The group that uncovered Northwest's actions says the airline broke its own privacy policy.
MARCIA HOFMANN, ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER: More or less, it's a misrepresentation, that Northwest has pretty much lied to its customers.
QUIJANO: Homeland security officials say they're keenly aware of privacy issues. They say their plans call for only minimal data.
NUALA O'CONNOR KELLY, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT.: Really, basic personal information like your name, home address, home phone and date of birth.
QUIJANO: Still, some say government access to personal information won't help identify terrorists committing their first major crime.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They had Timothy McVeigh's Social Security number. He still blew up the Murrah building.
QUIJANO (on camera): Government officials agree that no single program will guarantee travelers' safety, but say the passenger screening system is an integral part of a multilayered approach to prevent terrorists from ever again taking control of the skies.
Elaine Quijano, 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
Aired January 24, 2004 - 12:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, security versus privacy. That was the issue on the table this week as federal officials met with airline executives over a controversial computer assistant passenger screening program.
CNN's Elaine Quijano reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an idea that some air travelers say makes sense -- turning over personal information to the government in the name of security.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My privacy does nothing for me if I'm dead.
QUIJANO: But to others, it's an unwarranted intrusion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Security comes first. But there's a point we have to draw a line as to how much information do you want from us.
QUIJANO: Where to draw that line was one of the reasons federal officials met with airline executives this week in Washington. The goal? To reach an agreement on a planned computer assisted passenger screening program. Both sides called the meeting positive.
Still, the airlines say if the government wants passengers' information, that will only happen one way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not going to volunteer the information. There will have to be a requirement imposed upon our companies by the government.
QUIJANO: The airlines have been under pressure from privacy advocates. Just this week, after Northwest Airlines acknowledged giving the government passenger information, privacy advocates hit the airline with two lawsuits and a federal complaint, one saying Northwest's conduct constituted "a highly offensive and dangerous invasion of privacy."
The group that uncovered Northwest's actions says the airline broke its own privacy policy.
MARCIA HOFMANN, ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER: More or less, it's a misrepresentation, that Northwest has pretty much lied to its customers.
QUIJANO: Homeland security officials say they're keenly aware of privacy issues. They say their plans call for only minimal data.
NUALA O'CONNOR KELLY, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT.: Really, basic personal information like your name, home address, home phone and date of birth.
QUIJANO: Still, some say government access to personal information won't help identify terrorists committing their first major crime.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They had Timothy McVeigh's Social Security number. He still blew up the Murrah building.
QUIJANO (on camera): Government officials agree that no single program will guarantee travelers' safety, but say the passenger screening system is an integral part of a multilayered approach to prevent terrorists from ever again taking control of the skies.
Elaine Quijano, 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
