Американская система противодействия терроризму в авиации

US counter terrorism system

The Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS) is a counter terrorism system in place in the United States air travel industry that matches passenger information with other data sources. The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) maintains a watchlist, pursuant to 49 USC § 114 (h)(2), of "individuals known to pose, or suspected of posing, a risk of air piracy or terrorism or a threat to airline or passenger safety." The list is used to pre emptively identify terrorists attempting to buy airline tickets or board aircraft traveling in the United States, and to mitigate perceived threats.

CAPPS systems rely on what is known as a passenger name record (PNR). When a person books a plane ticket, certain identifying information is collected by the airline: full name, date of birth, address, etc. This information is used to check against another data source (including the TSA No Fly List, the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List, and other databases) and assign a terrorism "risk score" to that person. High risk scores require the airline to subject the person to extended baggage and/or personal screening, and to contact law enforcement, if necessary.

CAPPS I was first implemented in the late 1990s, in response to the perceived threat of U. S. domestic and international terrorism. The U. S. government started to implement counter terrorism measures after several bomb attacks occurred, including the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the 1996 Olympics bombing, and the 1998 bombings of two U. S. embassies in East Africa. CAPPS I was administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). CAPPS screening selected passengers for additional screening of their checked baggage for explosives. CAPPS selectees did not undergo any additional screening at passenger security checkpoints.