It has been reported that the United States Department of Homeland Security is introducing a program that will begin profiling incoming passengers as a new initiative for air travel security.
The new measures to are planned for introduction in April 2010, and will replace the program of screening of all passengers from a number of Muslim countries that was introduced as a result of the “Christmas Day Bomber” event in Detroit.
These new security measures will apply to US citizens as well, and will apply a level of screening that will depend on how closely their personal characteristics of travelers matches intelligence information.
The Washington Post reported that these changes come after a three-month review of security protocols.
These changes should see a significant reduction in the number of passengers who are taken aside for additional screening, whilst concentrating on individuals that seem to match particular intelligence profiles.
Characteristics such as nationality, partial names, recently visited countries and the age of the traveler will be taken into account.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano is reported as saying: ”These new measures utilize real-time, threat-based intelligence along with multiple, random layers of security, both seen and unseen, to more effectively mitigate evolving terrorist threats” .
