TSA Wants to Monitor Cell Phones to Estimate Wait Times

Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 March 2010 5:42 AM

The TSA is looking into new technology that will (anonymously) monitor your cell phone to track how long the wait in airport security lines takes. According to USA Today, the agency would then use the information to “prevent checkpoint snarls.” But civil liberty experts say the system could allow the government undue access to track citizens without their knowledge.

The technology works by listening for “chirps” emitted by handheld devices. These “chirps,” which some devices give off every 15 to 20 seconds, reveal their serial numbers. Part of the number is then tracked to see when a passenger entered a security line.

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