Comments on: “Clear” registered traveler company fails after wasting $116M

By: Papers, Please! » Blog Archive » Congress, investors won’t let “Trusted Traveler” die

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:42:18 +0000

[...] all-but-bankrupt “Registered Traveler” or “Trusted Traveler” scheme that shut down this June. Subcommittee members even went to so far as to criticize the TSA for having planned [...]

By: Papers, Please! » Blog Archive » “Clear” data temporarily enjoined from sale, but not yet safe

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:00:59 +0000

[...] to news reports today, Verified Identity Pass, Inc., (”VIP”) which operated the defunct Clear traveler registration scheme, has been temporarily enjoined by a Federal court from selling or [...]

By: cfh

cfh — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:26:02 +0000

I also note that the database of personal information on alll these travelers is no doubt in _someones_ possession, a creditor perhaps, that you don’t know and may not be able to find. This is another very good reason never to sign up for one of these schemes.

By: Billy

Billy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:16:44 +0000

This issue raises a larger question — what would ideal airport security look like?

Would a system that allows you to remain anonymous and screens only for weapons acceptable?

If you were allowed to remain anonymous and airport screening was for weapons only (yes, I know I’m dreaming), would it be bad to allow you to voluntarily give up anonymity and undergo a background check in exchange for a less thorough (quicker) screening?

There is the slippery slope objection — if the background check option became too popular, the anonymity option might disappear.

There is the security theater objection — if the background check is not effective, then the whole thing becomes an exercise in submitting to authority with no real safety improvement.

> 260,000 members down the tubes. No refunds.
Class action lawsuit?
If the company really is declaring bankruptcy, it ought to be worth the time of some enterprising lawyer to represent these people and make sure they get their money back before any other creditors are paid.

> not just to rich guys happy to have their iris and fingerprints on file.
The fee was $200 a year. Hardly out of range for your average middle-class frequent flier.

By: Jeff S.

Jeff S. — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:42:23 +0000

I love good news!