I remember a few decades ago when I was in the US Army we had someone get careless and a large personal knife fell out of their bag while boarding a large charter aircraft -- while at the time we were carrying rifles, pistols, light and medium machine guns, and bayonets. They took everyone off the plane, nearly strip-searched everyone, unloaded all baggage and thoroughly inspected everything, and gave the entire unit a serious tongue-lashing. It delayed the flight by several hours. The whole reaction seemed overblown to me.
I just wanted to share a flight-related security experience. Not sure if much of this applies here.
Security Theather... not needed, no threat, no risk from terrorist. More likely to be killed in an accident coming or leaving the airport. More people have died from Racoon attacks since 911 than from terrorist in the USA (not counting overseas).
These strictures are so random, change all the time, and vary so much from airport to airport (even within the US) that I automatically take my iPad and computer out and put them in a tray, just to save time... even though I have TSA Pre-check!
That is the whole point... You wanna make it less predictable and harder for terrorists to blow your airplane up by bypassing those security checks. And when that environment that you are trying to bypass, is constantly changing, that makes that task of finding a large enough security hole - extremely hard. Yes, yes, you do lose freedom AND time when this things are in place, but I would rather have that, than arriving in a black bag in pieces.
I had nothing as lofty as "not losing freedom" implied in my post. In fact, as I said, I preemptively take out my stuff to save time, even though I am TSA Pre-checked.
As to making things "...less predictable and harder for terrorists..", c'mon. Most of the time it's responding to the last known threat, not necessarily the next new one. I agree with the folks who note that it's just a form of security theater. Some feel-good nonsense for the most part. I just find it to be a minor annoyance, but something that I've factored in during the process of travel.
I believe that this is in response to the fact that some terrorist groups have gotten their hands on airport scanners and have been working to make bombs that get through the screening process at airports. If this is true, it is then this "last known threat" is very real and the response is not about making people "feel good" about airport security. If anything it annoys most travelers. Kind of reminds me of people who said the threat of Y2K was overblown because nothing much happened and forget to mention that nothing much happened because people took it seriously and got their systems updated or fixed.
At least now I won't get yelled at by the TSA agents who were like "You should have left your iPad in your bag. I TOLD you that you didn't need to take it out." Like honestly... all of this security theater got old years ago. It's not like anyone actually believes their security is being "enhanced" in any way anymore. It's just encroachment after encroachment. When full body cavity searches are implemented ... mark my words ... they'll be done "for your own security and safety" just like every other **** addition to the "security" features that are the united states.
Oh yeah, that's why I don't visit the US nearly as often as I used to... even as a US citizen!
I think AI's heading is hugely misleading as it is implying that iPads and MacBooks are being specifically targeted instead of just electronics in general that's "larger than a cell phone".
So basically, nothing new to read here. I travel out of SFO (San Francisco) often and TSA always has people pulling out laptops and tablets in general.
*yawn*
It is not "hugely misleading". This is an Apple-centric website. iPads are the vast majority of these larger than cell phone devices, that are not laptop computers.
According to https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/07/26/tsa-raising-aviation-security-baseline-stronger-domestic-security-measures , "The stronger security measures do not apply to passengers enrolled in TSA Pre✓® who are using TSA Pre✓® lanes. TSA also marked another milestone earlier this month with TSA Pre✓® now available at 200 airports nationwide. Travelers enrolled in TSA Pre✓® do not need to remove shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, electronics, light outerwear, or belts. The program allows TSA to focus resources on passengers who may pose a high risk to security while providing expedited screening to those travelers who have been identified as low-risk, trusted travelers."
In other words, the best $85 I ever spent in my life. And no, at no airport I have been through since getting Pre✓ have I had to take my laptop out of its bag, remove ,my shoes, or take anything out of my rucksack.
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I just wanted to share a flight-related security experience. Not sure if much of this applies here.
I don't follow the rest of your post.
(This was in response to Anton Zuykov's post, #19).
We have been required to do so for a long time already.
And I did that in German airports as well as in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
AKA "an increased level of fear mongering"
In other words, the best $85 I ever spent in my life. And no, at no airport I have been through since getting Pre✓ have I had to take my laptop out of its bag, remove ,my shoes, or take anything out of my rucksack.