|
For Immediate Release!
Business Travel Association Applauds GAO Report But Fears Potential CAPPS II Impact On Industry
Alexandria, VA (Feb. 12)
-- The Association of Business Travel Executives is
solidly behind a Government Accounting Office report that stands in the way of
future funding to the Transportation Safety Administration's CAPPS II
program. The GAO reports that CAPPS II (Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening
System II) fails to address seven out eight major privacy concerns, and a number
of critical points that could have a negative impact on business travel.
The GAO report mirrored a list of concerns ACTE sent to the TSA last
September. Like ACTE, the GAO concluded that "under public acceptance issues"
(including provisions for people who were "inappropriately targeted for additional
screening"), the TSA did not resolve the redress process, nor did it clarify
policies regarding operation or use. The GAO also faulted CAPPS II on the accuracy
of its data, stress testing, abuse prevention, unauthorized access, and
privacy concerns.
"Business travel managers from the largest companies in the country are
questioning the impact CAPPS II will have on both their companies travelers and
the travel industry as a whole," said Nancy Holtzman, executive director for the
Association of Corporate Travel Managers. "In the scramble to draw the lines
for privacy, little has been said about the deleterious effect the unworkable
aspects of CAPPS II may have on a fragile industry recovery," said Holtzman.
Ninety-five percent of survey respondents in a recent ACTE poll found CAPPS
II unacceptable in its current form for failing to detail:
- an appeals process for removing verified passenger names from a suspected
terrorist list
- a reconciliation process for misidentified passengers at the airport
- a published policy for offenses other than terrorism for which passengers
will be arrested
- a refund or re-ticketing process for passengers who miss flights as a
result of being detained
A major concern that surrounds CAPPS II involves the number of passengers
that could be wrongfully detained for questioning, or denied boarding. "What the
industry needs is an accurate assessment of the anticipated detainment and
delay rate, so we can estimate the cost impact to the industry. This information
can only come from the TSA. It's an essential part of the CAPPS II equation
that's missing," said Garth Jopling, ACTE president.
ACTE's membership is not opposed to a passenger screening process in
principle. In fact, an overwhelming 86 percent supported a prescreening process -- but
not CAPPS II in its present form.
"The time to address these issues is now before the impact of CAPPS II
discourages business travel and threatens the industry," said Holtzman. "We are
continuing to work with the TSA to assure the proposed system adequately meets
the unique needs of the business traveler and supports a healthy economic
environment for our industry.
For more information, and a copy of the complete survey results, contact:
Jack Riepe
ACTE Communications Officer
t: 617-719-8396
c: 610-256-0124
e: [email protected]
Back
to the Home Page
|
