Law & Society Blog

Commercial Aviation reports that:

Advertising in security checkpoints will be coming to an airport near you under a proposed Transportation Security Administration pilot program. … “TSA plans to launch a one-year pilot program where airport operators may enter into an agreement with vendors, who will provide divestiture bins, divestiture and composure tables, and metal-free bin return carts at no cost to TSA,” said spokeswoman Amy Kudwa. “In return for the equipment, TSA will allow airport operator-approved advertisements to be displayed on the bottom of the inside of the bins.” An initial test at Los Angeles began in July 2006, said Kudwa. TSA is holding an Industry Day Jan. 11 at its headquarters in Arlington, Va., for those interested in participating in the program.

(HT: Homeland Stupidity). What a great idea! First, entrap travelers in a security theater. Second, further annoy them with advertising. Here’s a recommendation to further fine-tune the program: Select passengers for in-depth screening on the basis of their ability to repeat the ad messages! If you can’t recall the ads, chances are that you are either a terrorist or in some other subversive manner harbor anti-consumerist attitudes. Either way, your bag needs some serious searching. And I thought the aptly named Captivate elevator TV screens recently installed in my building were annoying. Well, never underestimate human ingenuity.

Technorati Tags: security, airport, TSA

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