Tuesday, September 11, 2007

US travellor data to be kept for 15 years not 40

From the AP:

"Rejecting a wave of criticisms, the U.S. government has agreed to only modest changes in the computerized system that assesses whether each American who travels abroad poses a terrorist threat.

The Homeland Security Department decided to keep the risk assessments for 15 years instead of 40 years and no longer will share them with federal, state and local officials who are deciding whether a person gets a job, a security clearance, a license to do business or a government contract.

Nevertheless, travelers still will not be allowed to see their actual assessments or the reasons for them. Federal agents still will be looking at an array of information about international travelers - Americans and foreigners; this includes even meal choices, the names of traveling companions and the number of hotel beds requested."

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