ACLU to Sue Government Over 'No-Fly' List

[ZR2]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=2&u=/ap/20040406/ap_on_re_us/no_fly_lawsuit

WASHINGTON - American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites)'s officials declined to comment in advance of their planned announcement Tuesday that they would file a class-action lawsuit challenging the list of travelers that the government has barred from flying because they're considered a threat. The civil rights group is representing seven plaintiffs.



Airlines are instructed to stop anyone on the "no fly" list that is compiled by the Transportation Security Administration. The ACLU contends, though, that some people are wrongfully put on the list.

...................

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Have any DUers found themselves on the no-fly list?

Let us know... I'm really curious.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. At the very least...

...people should be able to defend themselves by knowing what the intercourse are they being singled out for. Face the accuser. That's basic.

[truebrit71]

3. Excellent!! About bloody time...

..I hate this administration...Can you imagine the uproar if a Democratic administration put these restrictions in place??

[sonias]

4. Glad to hear it - Way to go ACLU

A citizen should have the right to challenge the basis of their decision. The way it is set up now, they could have the wrong name and identity just like the felon purge lists from Florida. We have no idea how they came up with the list. Probably the same firm (Choice Point)came up with the no fly list. I'm sure if we ever get to see the names on this list you will find that the allegations were minor. Free speech issues etc.

Sonia

[DubyaSux]

5. Sheesh...lighten up...

Actually, an airport in the midwest is using a no-fly list system I personally developed.

Just like the hysteria surrounding electronic voting (and as a security company, we do smart card projects as well), almost everything you hear is not true.

This is no exception.

If you've done nothing, your name will not be on that list. Otherwise, other technologies are used to flag some people, but there is no physical record of that person. Only a generic flag with no virtual person in mind.

I hate Bush and everything about his administration, but good grief. People are feeding you the things you want to beleive.

[truthspeaker]

6. "If you've done nothing, your name won't be on the list"

OK, but where is the legal process for someone to verify that if they end up on the list? Democracy doesn't work on trust.

[jobendorfer]

7. some observations

You've described a black box process by which names are added to
a no-fly list. Because this is a black-box process, we have
no idea what criteria are used to select names. We don't
know if there is any corrective active loop for identifying and
removing names that have been mistakenly added. We don't know
the sensitivity and specificity of your algorithms. We don't
know what your data base records besides a name. All we have
is a blanket statement that says, "trust us -- we know what
we're doing."

Yeah, I'd say I have got things to worry about.

J.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

8. "hysteria surrounding electronic voting"

Wha?
Um...I think I'm gonna trust the ACLU on this one.
Besides, what does it take to get on that list? About as much as it takes to get declared a "terrorist" and thrown in prison via the Patriot Act?

[Desperadoe]

9. That "whoosh" that you just heard

Is your credibility going out the door. Don't let it hit you in the ass.

[EV1Ltimm]

10. there were several instances...

of people who were not allowed to fly because they shared a name with someone on the no-fly list...

i had several links to the news articles, but they're dead now.

[The Stranger]

11. "If you've done nothing, your name will not be on that list. "

You first. Let's have a look at your bank accounts, property and credit card records, financial statements, personal correspondence, medical records, computer hard drive -- and the same for everyone in your family.

Trust us. If you've done nothing, then you have nothing to worry about.

And be quick about it.

[NeoConsSuck]

12. Ok, let me ask you a few questions...

I write critical letters to my local fbi office accusing them (with examples) of being domestic terrorists.

Would exercising my first amendment rights land me on this list? And why was a Green Party official refused a flight at a Maine airport after 911?

And BTW, if you don't have the answers to my questions, you really shouldn't be posting your "facts".

Edited for grammar.

[imwatchingem]

13. Guilty till proven innocent...

A friend of mine is a frequent business flyer. He showed up at the airport a few months ago and stood in the long line, only to be pulled aside and told he isn't allowed to fly "until further notice". He asked a lot of questions, but he got no answers.

Why would he be on the "no fly" list?

Should he have been wearing a brown suit instead of the navy blue on the day he was banned from flying?

Or is the problem that he's a Socialist and participates in peaceful demonstrations?

He's now watching those in his company who can fly get credit for what he had been doing for the last twenty-two years.

What you aren't told can hurt you.