TSA Behavior Detection and Analysis Program

One of the ways that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is trying to execute it's vision of "Providing the most effective transportation security in the most efficient way as a high performing counterterrorism organization." is the application of Behavior Detection and Analysis (BDA) Program, which is described by TSA as:

"The BDA program utilizes non-invasive behavior detection techniques based on scientifically validated behaviors to identify individuals who potentially pose a threat to the nation’s transportation network.  These individuals are deemed potentially higher risk and subjected to additional scrutiny by TSA.  The program was formally established in 2006 after three years of operational pilot testing.  Today, TSA deploys more than 3,000 full-time Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) in the aviation and surface transportation sectors, the latter through participation in Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams in surface modes of transportation. The BDA program identifies potentially high risk individuals exhibiting behavior indicative of excessive fear or stress and re-routes them for additional screening by looking for a combination of individual indicators that warrant follow-up.  BDO observations and referrals are not dispositive of high risk activity, but result in additional screening, similar to an Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) alarm needing to be resolved. BDOs are trained to identify behavior cues that have been shown through research, science, and decades of domestic and international law enforcement experience to be reliable indicators and predictors of anomalous or suspicious behavior.  BDOs engage in conversation with individuals displaying anomalous behaviors, looking at possible verbal cues indicative of a high risk passenger and refer those individuals exhibiting such behavior for additional physical screening and/or to law enforcement."

TSA classifies this as the Screening of Passengers by Observing Techniques (SPOT).  "SPOT is one means by which TSA fulfills their responsibilities by enabling BDOs in the field to report individuals exhibiting behaviors possibly indicvative of terrorist activity for referral to selectee screening or Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) intervention."

Personally, the theory of BDO's. It has shown to be effective in countries such as Israel. (although the Israeli Aviation Security personal say that TSA's version is very different) Unfortunately the program is being run by an top down central planning agency that is not 20 years old. Also here in the US, groups like the ACLU are blocking any attempts to apply this program fully. This leads to reports where the TSA spent approximately $900 million over the last 5 years for behavior detection officers to identify high-risk passengers but, so far, according to the General Accountability Office (GAO), only 0.59% of the passengers flagged were arrested and among those not one was charged with terrorism – zero.

Nobody will argue that the airport security should not exist, but the current method that is being applied is more kabuki theater than actually being an effective deterrent. My hope is that eventually TSA will follow the example of FEMA and begin to shift more responsibility back to the states, or even more favorably privatized.

Good Luck and Good Hunting.