A leaked American airport security document suggesting excessive throat clearing and yawning are signs someone is a terrorist has drawn widespread condemnation online.
The Transportation Security Administration checklist know as SPOT (Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques) helps agents identify passengers who are a potential security risk.
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A copy of SPOT released by The Intercept tells agents that whistling, gazing down, fidgeting, having body odour or a pale face from a recently shaved beard were all signs of a potential terrorist.
The TSA employs specialist officers who observe passengers’ behaviours as they pass through the screening process.
The program began in 2007 at a cost of $900 million, but has been attacked numerous times for lacking evidence.
The checklist has 92 different behaviours in total, all of them worth a varying amount of points.
See the full checklist here
Passengers can also have points deducted from their score if they are deemed less likely to be a terrorist by the TSA, with couples over 55 considered less likely.
A study by the US Government Accountability Office in 2013 called on the TSA to limit funding for behavioural detection, saying it lacked evidence and was shown to be subjective.
“Congress should consider the absence of scientifically validated evidence for using behavioural indicators to identify threats to aviation security,” the report said.
A TSA spokesperson said the checklist was just one element of the administration’s “layered approach to deter, detect and disrupt individuals who pose a threat to aviation”.
Twitter users slammed the SPOT policy as ridiculous and warned teenage boys travelling through airports to watch out.
If you yawn too much at the airport, you may be a terrorist. https://t.co/JfoDJ4avmw #NotAllYawners
— matt blaze (@mattblaze) March 27, 2015
@TelegraphTravel Watch out most teenage boys!
— Richard Smith (@thesafaririch) March 30, 2015
@TelegraphTravel @TSA wait what?? Yawning? Little ridiculous
— Oliver Gunn (@OlivetreeBro) March 30, 2015
“Face pale from recent shaving, avoids eye contact, strong body odour”. Can’t wait to travel with you @JoeNRussell http://t.co/U96bbC0df1
— Ben Parker (@BenParker90) March 30, 2015
Arrogance, laughter, body odor… How to spot a terrorist, according to US airport security. We’re on good hands. http://t.co/t7QYP2PlLw
— Chad Glover (@Chadvs5) March 30, 2015
While waiting for a plane, do you ever yawn, clear your throat or stare at stuff? You may well be a terrorist https://t.co/4tIuI6zt2n
— Paul Hamilos (@PaulHamilos) March 27, 2015
My personal favorite from TSA’s secret checklist to spot terrorists: “strong body odor.” http://t.co/cpnWr2ZXt6
— Sharon Weinberger (@weinbergersa) March 27, 2015
The best part of TSA’s behavior checklist is that “appears to be in disguise” is 3 points, not enough to get stopped https://t.co/fAnRIcXDeL
— Jon Schwarz (@tinyrevolution) March 30, 2015
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