Governmentt Posts Airport Screening Guide on Internet in Error

By Gideon Swift | Published: December 9, 2009

The Transportation Security Administration is investigating after they say an outdated version of their standard operating procedures manual was posted on the Internet. Who gets more scrutiny in line? What countries’ passports are singled out? Who’s exempt from screening? The answers to those questions and more were posted online for everybody to see.

The document is dated May 28, 2008, and it is considered sensitive security information. It details who gets special treatment, and what to do with people who balk at the checkpoint.

Many passengers who spoke with WTTG-TV in D.C. about the story at Reagan National Airport said it was concerning. Some pointed out that if we could get our hands on the document online, so could anyone else.

Documents note that passengers from Cuba, North Korea, Libya and a number of other countries must undergo additional screening.

“You don’t want discrimination against a certain country or against a certain population group or a certain group of people but if you don’t profile, then I think you’re missing the boat. You’re not being realistic,” said Bob Boswellin, a passenger.

It offers examples of identification documents that screeners accept, including congressional, federal air marshal and CIA ID cards; and it explains that diplomatic pouches and certain foreign dignitaries with law enforcement escorts are not subjected to any screening at all. It said certain methods of verifying identification documents aren’t used on all travelers during peak travel crushes.