This blog post was updated on October 31, 2018.
The TSA is expanding its pilot “Chat-down” program into Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
During the program, TSA agents may ask select passengers conversational questions about their travel plans at TSA checkpoints.
Special agents will be trained to spot suspicious behavior and look for certain clues that could mean a traveler is hiding something.
The controversial practice is an expansion of the widely used Screening Passengers by Observation Technique (also known as SPOT).
Despite public concerns, the TSA insists that the one-minute interviews will not slow down checkpoint wait times and will lead to safer travel for all. According to the agency, over 100,000 passengers have been interviewed since the pilot program launched in Boston back in August.
Source: Businessweek
Flickr: Inha Leex
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