TSA Trained Disney Employees to 'SPOT' for Potential Terrorists

[Siren]

These look like these come from these crazy people websites.

I'm not a terrorist, so I don't care.

LOL. I'm not too familiar with the website, this story came through my news feed, and there appears to be some truth behind it. I do wish it came from a slightly more reputable source, but the 'SPOT' checklist does appear to be legitimate.

Apparently, the checklist was leaked to Intercept by an angry TSA worker. A report from the Washington Post, confirms this. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...-tsas-secretive-list-of-suspicious-behaviors/

The ACLU currently has a lawsuit with TSA over this matter, prior to the leak -- but they are going to continue with the lawsuit.

I guess the consensus is that, it is safe to assume, if TSA implements 'SPOT' observation and behavior techniques for their own security employees, that they would train other agencies to do exactly the same.

The 'SPOT' checklist is pretty damaging. https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1697887/spot-referral.pdf

If patrons going through security checkpoints display two or more 'signs' they could be flagged for interrogation, and so on.

What a joke. I guess I shouldn't be tired when I head to disney in the morning in case I get "SPOTTED".

I swear I just read an article about how the SPOT program has cost millions yet hasn't actually "caught" one potential terrorist. Here's a link to some of the findings the article cited: http://www.gao.gov/products/gao-14-158t

Wow, this is interesting! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cesar R M]

You completely missed the point...

I guess I prefer to judge their level of effectiveness on real life (number of terrorist attacks that have happened post 9/11) and not on things I read on the Internet.

Obviously they could be more effective but it's ignorant to ignore the difficulty of their job while trying their best to not actually cause real inconvenience to everyone.

Why do people put stickers on their house they have alarm systems when they don't have one? Why do stores put up fake security cameras? You simply cannot expect them to see everything, their existence and them releasing these statements about everything they're looking for prevents would be terrorists.

that's the job of NSA and probably CIA as well.
And they have detained quite a few already. And remember reading they stopped a few attacks already.
The TSA? NONE, NOTHING.

That's untrue, even by their own policies stated on the official government website. I already have the MCO-TSA lead admitting that they made an "error in judgement", now I'm just following the steps to seek legal action.

• TSA will not ask travelers to do anything that will separate them from their child.

You also have the right to refuse a scan, which leads to a pat down. You even have the right to refuse that. Of course then you won't fly but I'm not willing to drop my rights just because the government wants to fool you into thinking it's for your own good.

not to mention that the TSA somehow managed to hire quite a few of sexual felons.
And other could-be felons (like of that pervert who actually did a full patdown on a very young girl and touched her inappropriately)

 

[Cesar R M]

Ugh... there's no winning.

If that's how you honestly view it, then so be it. I have to believe in my heart of hearts you're trolling on that point.

I apologize if anything I said offended someone, we simply disagree and are going to disagree. The overall topic is a bit close to home for me so I tend to be a little over passionate about it. For the most part I thought this was a pretty good, spirited argument and I can appreciate that. We don't need to agree on it and I'm comfortable with that. That last point is too extreme for me to continue on with it, though. Plus I have dinner plans...

so, having a point that refused your points is trolling now?
lol

 

[Cesar R M]

And there it is (the bolded). Seriously, that phrase should never be used when discussing anything relating to law enforcement and security. I hate that phrase and its use almost as much as "but think of the children!"

I find it funny that all officials, security or persons in power (who want to go above the law), love to use that phrase to somehow convince a person to let them stomp over your rights.

 

[SCB502]

I fly at least twice a week and I don't understand the TSA hatred. I read all the bad stories about them but I read a lot of stuff that I take with a grain of salt. I've never had a bad encounter with any of them. The incidents I see are people that just want to be jerks because they don't want to take off their shoes or belt. Is it really that hard? Most the time all the jerks do is slow the line up for everyone else then end up taking off their shoes or belt anyway. No, I don't like all the little things I have to do to get on the plane but there are a lot of things in life I don't like that I just do ( taxes, fast passes at 60 days). Just be nice to them, like you should be any human being, do the little things you have to do and you'll be fine. And as far as TSA has never caught a terrorist, I've been in line when they have found a gun on three different occasions, how do you know none of them had bad intents? Did they? Probably not, but I'm glad TSA found the gun before it got on the plane. And what's the alternative? Unscreened planes?

 

[Dukeblue1227]

so, having a point that refused your points is trolling now?
lol

Not at all.

Saying the cause for terrorist attacks other places than planes are the fault of the tsa protecting air travel is trolling, though.

 

[unkadug]

Not at all.

Saying the cause for terrorist attacks other places than planes are the fault of the tsa protecting air travel is trolling, though.

Perhaps it was in order to illustrate the absurdity of your claims.

 

[Dukeblue1227]

Perhaps it was in order to illustrate the absurdity of your claims.

All I was claiming was their very existence helps prevent violence in air travel and that no matter what or where there's always risk of terrorism. Their existence is an attempt to help one avenue of that be safer.

You're not obligated to agree with that, but it's disrespectful to call that "absurd" just because you dont...

 

[unkadug]

All I was claiming was their very existence helps prevent violence in air travel and that no matter what or where there's always risk of terrorism. Their existence is an attempt to help one avenue of that be safer.

You're not obligated to agree with that, but it's disrespectful to call that "absurd" just because you dont...

So now anybody that disagrees with you is either insensitive or disrespectful.

 

[DisneyCane]

This entire thread demonstrates why you shouldn't trust journalists, especially ones from unknown publications and you should research things yourself. While there are many valid points brought up about the uselessness and stupidity of a lot of the TSA stuff, the article that points out all of these ridiculous behaviors that Disney would supposedly look for is not factual.

It's all in the details. The article makes the statement about "excessive laughter" and then the author and posters in the thread make fun of how dumb that is. However, if you look at the leaked SPOT report (I always wonder how many tax dollars are spent coming up with program names so they make an acronym), it says "exaggerated emotions or inappropriate behaviors to the location such as crying, excessive laughter, or chatter."

This entire "check box" would not apply to anything they were doing at Disney. The TSA document is talking about behaviors that are inappropriate for an airport screening area. People in line for airport screening don't tend laugh like they are in the audience for a comedy show or cry like they just watched Schinder's List.

As for the yawning, they are talking about yawning, again it says "exaggerated yawning as the individual approaches the screening process." It doesn't say that yawning while exiting the monorail is suspicious. It is talking about the type of yawn that people do to try and seem bored/casual in a stressful situation.

So, while I agree that the TSA tends to be incompetent and a bunch of mall cops on a power trip, the ridicule about this stuff being applied to Disney is all based on an essentially made up article.

 

[Disforever]

This will not change anyone 's mind that is already made up, but here are a few fun facts. In researching this is what I've found. The program was developed by the FBI and the Mass. State Police Dept and they trained TSA officers of which only some have the training. Just because a person has one of them doesn't indicate anything. There is some formula before anything happens. I have traveled more than I care to admit and have never had a problem with TSA. Do they have some employees that need more training or might need another job, sure, but name me one company or organization that doesn't. I believe TSA acts as more of a preventive mechanism than outright catching terrorist, as a matter of fact since they have only caught several it proves the point that they are deflecting them so the real intelligence community can do their job. I for one would rather have my plane screened than not

 

[Dukeblue1227]

So now anybody that disagrees with you is either insensitive or disrespectful.

Again, not at all.

I explained my reasons for finding the other comment insensitive. It was very likely the way I was reading it which was not in line with the way it was intended. That's on me for my perspective of the comment. I took it insensitively. It was explained, I accepted it, I moved on.

You calling my claims absurd, when I didn't say anything extreme simply just different from you is absolutely disrespectful. It's a complete refusal to even listen to an opposing opinion than your own.

I admitted to their being entirely fair and solid counterpoints to things I've said. It seems you only want to make this into a personal attack on another person strictly on the basis of them not seeing eye to eye with you.

Like I said yesterday, I apologize if anything I said offended you, but you haven't offered any points to the discussion with me, you just keep responding to what I say telling me I'm wrong or with something condescending.

 

[ford91exploder]

A federal agency which recruits it's so called officers with ads in Pizza boxes and gas pumps is not hiring 'well qualified professionals'

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/97/2000678/DHS-delivers-job-offers-on-gas-pumps-pizza-boxes

I'm sorry but as a million mile flier - I've seen too many bad TSA agents, I've been told by one particular troll at my home airport 'I can make you miss your flight If I want to' said agent was ed because they were sure I had a knife in my bag which they could not find (just lots of electronics which I HAVE to fly with as work related),

The majority of them are decent people doing a thankless job for clueless managers. But there have been too many instances of TSA people stealing from bags my problem with that is if they can take something OUT unobserved they can put something IN unobserved.

Luggage should only be searched in the passengers presence. TSA needs a total reform

 

[Cesar R M]

Not at all.

Saying the cause for terrorist attacks other places than planes are the fault of the tsa protecting air travel is trolling, though.

Then, please tell us when did someone say that?

not preventing != causing.

 

[Dukeblue1227]

Then, please tell us when did someone say that?

not preventing != causing.

The guy admitted he was trolling. Please read the entire discussion before just jumping down people's throats, solely on the basis of them not agreeing with you. There's no need for this to have become some ugly witch hunt for things to argue with.

 

[Cesar R M]

The guy admitted he was trolling. Please read the entire discussion before just jumping down people's throats, solely on the basis of them not agreeing with you. There's no need for this to have become some ugly witch hunt for things to argue with.

Hold on, stop with the projecting and blame shifting.

You're getting annoying, because you're the one who mentioned trolling, not once.. TWICE.
and only because someone replied back to you disagreeing with your opinion.

I find it funny that you make it a witch hunt, considering how irrational you have been on this thread.

 

[Dukeblue1227]

Hold on, stop with the projecting and blame shifting.

You're getting annoying, because you're the one who mentioned trolling, not once.. TWICE.
and only because someone replied back to you disagreeing with your opinion.

I find it funny that you make it a witch hunt, considering how irrational you have been on this thread.

?

I mentioned trolling once about one post. Then the person who I said was trolling admitted they were trolling. What am I missing....

 

[Cesar R M]

?

I mentioned trolling once about one post. Then the person who I said was trolling admitted they were trolling. What am I missing....

with this post, you've said troll above 5 times

 

[Dukeblue1227]

with this post, you've said troll above 5 times

Hahaha okay fine I concede that.

 

[xstech25]

Considering Disney runs the two highest attended international destinations in the country obviously they want to be good friends with the dept of homeland security, and some of the people that are higher ups in Disney security are former pentagoners/military. This article over emphasizes some things, people who go to Disney World are not going to get patted down and wanded like the TSA does, but when there is a real security threat they all get together and come up with plans on how to deal with those situations. Disney World may be happy and care about treating their customers well but they also do get bomb threats, people calling saying they are going to commit crimes, etc and they have to know how the most comprehensive ways of dealing with those.