Air passengers 'could be tagged'

[n2doc]

Air passengers 'could be tagged'
By Rebecca Morelle
BBC News

Electronically tagging passengers at airports could help the fight against terrorism, scientists have said.

The prototype technology is to be tested at an airport in Hungary, and could, if successful, become a reality "in two years". The work is being carried out at a new research centre, based at University College London, set up to find technological solutions to crime. Other projects include scanners for explosives and dirty bomb radiation. Dr Paul Brennan, an electrical engineer, is leading the tagging project, known as Optag. He said: "The basic idea is that airports could be fitted with a network of combined panoramic cameras and RFID (radio frequency ID) tag readers, which would monitor the movements of people around the various terminal buildings." The plan, he said, would be for each passenger to be issued with a tag at check-in. He said: "In our system, the location can be detected to an accuracy of 1m, and video and tag data could be merged to give a powerful surveillance capability."

Civil liberties

The tags do not store any data, but emit a signal containing a unique ID which could be cross-referenced with passenger identification information. In the future, added Dr Brennan, this could incorporate biometric data. The project still needs to overcome some hurdles, such as finding a way of ensuring the tags cannot be switched between passengers or removed without notification. The issue of infringement of civil liberties will also be key. But potentially, said Dr Brennan, the tags could aid security by allowing airports to track the movement patterns of passengers deemed to be suspicious and prevent them from entering restricted areas. It could also aid airports by helping evacuation in case of a fire, rapidly locating children, and finding passengers who are late to arrive at the gate.

The "proof of concept" of the system is about to be tested at Debrecen airport in Hungary. If successful, claimed Dr Brennan, it could be available elsewhere within two years.

more:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6044310.stm

Yet another reason to not fly if this comes to pass....

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. "The tags do not store any data..."

Yeah...ummm..OK! Sign me up! :sarcasm:

[n2doc]

4. Ahh..but they didn't say anything about the tracking system, did they?

[shance]

2. Teaching people to tolerate the intolerable all the way to the gas chamber

STOP ALLOWING ENSLAVEMENT.

[Marie26]

3. Do we get a collar too? nt

[myrna minx]

16. Invisible fencing...

http://www.invisiblefence.com/
Gee, it'll be so easy to round us all up!

[liberal N proud]

5. The next step, Implanted chips.

[madinmaryland]

8. That's what they want.

:scared:

One more reason not to fly.

[HereSince1628]

6. Well if we put up invisible fence and issue neck collars to each

passenger you could actually "punish" them automatically for getting too close to secure areas.

[Marie26]

10. "Bad passenger! Bad!" nt

[Ellen Forradalom]

7. That's it, I'm turning off cookies

[sweetheart]

9. "The issue of infringement of civil liberties will also be key."

What planet does this dorko journalist live on, of course civil liberties are the key! Why did it take so
long to mention that, it is absurdly invasive this technology, grossly unnecessary, turning airports in
to prisons when is the war on privacy gonna end, bbc journalist my friend. You're not wearing your collar.

[Mind_your_head]

11. Passengers could be tagged? Like this?

Who the h*ll are these Dr. Strangeloves who think up this stoopid shit anyway!

:mad: :mad:

[symbolman]

12. All I have to say to these guys is

YOU FIRST.

[ddeclue]

13. Screw that... I'll walk there first...

[louis-t]

14. Jeez, why not give every passenger a hypo

full of GHB for the entire flight? The image of Minnie Pearl with the tag on her hat just crept into my brain.

[The2ndWheel]

15. If we don't give a damn about the rest of life

that we tag, categorize, and determine the fates of, why should this be a problem? They don't call the 21st century the "Information Age" for nothing. From the point of view of civilization, I don't know how this wouldn't make sense. Whether it's two years, ten years, or 20 years from now, it has to happen. Order must be kept.

[Mind_your_head]

17. There's an enormous difference between 'order' and 'control'

They're not looking for 'order'. 'Control' is what "the powers that wannabe" are after. Everything that is happening 'speaks' to that end. Don't be naive. Don't give up the things that are rightfully yours.

Peace,
M_Y_H

[WinkyDink]

18. The camel's nose inside the tent is ALWAYS "it's to locate the CHILDREN".

[Mind_your_head]

19. Everyone who is willing to "be tagged" please kick this

:sarcasm:

oh go ahead you 'safety moms/dads'....it's for your kid's own good, right?