TSA SPOT Program: Billion Dollar Magic 8 Ball

Via: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-159

Available evidence does not support whether behavioral indicators, which are used in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program, can be used to identify persons who may pose a risk to aviation security. GAO reviewed four meta-analyses (reviews that analyze other studies and synthesize their findings) that included over 400 studies from the past 60 years and found that the human ability to accurately identify deceptive behavior based on behavioral indicators is the same as or slightly better than chance. Further, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) April 2011 study conducted to validate SPOT’s behavioral indicators did not demonstrate their effectiveness because of study limitations, including the use of unreliable data.

Welcome to the New World Disorder.

In my own experience, the people that work for TSA seem to be a
particular demographic.  They have chosen to hire workers who are
really deadpan and mechanical.  They don't want to have real human
beings for TSA workers.  They want workers who are able to become
little cookie-cutter apparatchiks.  

It is a line of work where you would be required to leave behind any
sense of human compassion or good humor.  There is nothing humorous.
Whenever they laugh it's because they are contemptuous of something.
They laugh AT other people, not with them.  

Try to tell a TSA worker a joke and see what happens.  It's like they're
afraid to laugh because they'll get in trouble for laughing.  These are
the antithesis of cheerfulness.  They have no concept of charity.  It's
all about surviving until the end of the day.  

Whenever I have approached one to ask a question or make some kind
of friendly comment, immediately they go into 'SIZE-HIM-UP' mode.  It's
like I just woke them up from their cherished slumber and now they
have to actually go to work, thanks to me.  They were much happier
not being spoken to, but now that someone (I) spoke to them, there
are 17 rules they have to follow in order to interact with a "SUSPECT"
and make no mistake about it:  YOU ARE SUSPECT.  

It's as though they are trained to think that there is no reason for
anyone to seek your attention unless they have an ulterior motive,
therefore, the mere fact that you are speaking to them when they
were not even looking at you (except perhaps about 5 degrees away
from you such that they don't have to actually make eye contact),
means that you are attempting to CONTROL them, and THEY are the
ones who are supposed to control YOU.

They are ALWAYS on the lookout for whom they will SELECT.  They are
trained to say, "YOU ARE SELECTED." -- At which point you become the
object of their intense scrutiny.  Anything you say can and will be used
against you, but you are not read your Miranda rights.  

Welcome to the New World Disorder.

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I read a report that says the Israeli airport security system has been using techniques that have human agents assessing the facial expressions, reactions, body language and speech of passengers at the airports, and they have been doing it for many years.  The report said that because of this highly scientific and longstanding development, the various neighbors of Israel that would be likely to use their airports as a means of attacking Israel have not dared to even try because they know they would never get past security.  It also said this is the reason we don't hear of any terrorist events either on Israeli airports or on Israeli airlines.

It made me wonder how Israeli airlines manage to have their own security system in place at airports outside of Israel, unless the flight crews are somehow able to perform this assessment procedure as well.  But the report did not say anything about that as I recall.  Sorry, I don't have a copy of the report or any link.  I was hoping some other member has seen it too.

Also, I didn't mention this before because then it would seem this thread ought to be in the WWIII-Ch.I forum, and it's not.  

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The employees at the Department of Motor Vehicles have the same traits!

I think you're correct in most cases, but there are exceptions who somehow weasel through.  It seems to me that the Los Angeles Sheriff's office is a lot more like this.  They've hired a lot of female deputies and I have yet to meet one who isn't more like a robot than a human being. Just try to make a joke about anything and right away you're Suspect Number One.  Their overt message is this:  the only joke is YOU!

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