Another Federal Agency is on the verge of scandal. This time under the attention of human rights organizations got the air Service U.S. marshals (Federal Air Marshal Service). On 30 July the journalists of the Boston Globe reported the existence of a secret program Quiet Skies (Silent heaven), in which agents FAMS secretly watching over the passengers flights.
Data collect agents FAMS, include every step of their chosen «candidate». Photo: flickr/CC/austenhufford
It turned out that the Federal service collects information about the people on Board the plane. Under surveillance may be any person, even if he was a law-abiding citizen. Moreover, the data collecting agents FAMS, include every step of their chosen «candidate». Everything is recorded: how many times a person went to the toilet, talking whether on the phone, sweated or not, and even the way he looked at the other passengers.
The information collected by a secret agent, every few minutes is transferred to a special server, where data is processed hundreds of thousands of people. Their names, behaviors, etc., become available not only the marshals Service, but other law-enforcement agencies.
Under surveillance may be any person, even if he was a law-abiding citizen. Photo: pixabay
While our agents have a recommendation list, which lists the main points required for monitoring. In total such «rules» of 15 pieces. They are all aimed at computation people whose behavior coincides with the facial features of known criminals and persons suspected of committing crimes.
After the publication of the article in the newspaper, the authorities were forced to react to the disclosed information. The representative of Administration of the U.S. transportation security (Transportation Security Administration – TSA) James O. Gregory, told reporters that the program operates since 2010. According to him, it is common practice for agents FAMS, and it helps to identify potentially dangerous citizens. The TSA agent refused to clarify what the threat was able to identify with the Quiet Skies program.
«We are no different from the policeman on the corner, which was placed there, given the high likelihood of threats. When you fly in the pipe, at an altitude of 30 thousand feet, it makes sense to put there the representative of the FAMS», — commented O. Gregory.
According to the Boston Globe, on Quiet Skies spent a lot of money. Photo: flickr/CC/caribb/
However, human rights organizations have their own opinion on this matter. They believe that the way the Federal government violates the constitutional rights of Americans. Activists insist that the TSA are obliged to report to the public. What does the question not only about the violation of human rights, but also about the effectiveness of the program. According to the Boston Globe, for Quiet Skies to spend a lot of money, and its feasibility is not proven.
Now human rights activists intend to seek from the TSA a full report, otherwise they promise to go to court.
Recall that earlier we wrote about the Russian Andrei Suchilina, who was removed from the flight because of the «terrible stench«. According to passengers, the man is not bathed in weeks and smelled so dreadful. Because of him, several people became ill, after which the pilots of the aircraft made an emergency landing.
However, the ending of this story was shocking. It turned out that the man was suffering from a rare disease in which the human body literally decomposes. A few days later, after the incident in the air, Suchilin died in a Portuguese hospital.
