Unintended Side Effects

From the it-would-funny-if-it-weren't-true department: a program intended to speed travelers through security checkpoints — a laudable goal — has one consequence its designers didn't consider: giving terrorists advanced warning that they are under suspicion. Oops. From the essay:
And even worse, the system lets terrorists test the system beforehand. Imagine you're in a terrorist cell. Twelve of you apply for the card, but only four of you get it. Those four not only have a card that lets them go through the easy line at security checkpoints; they also know that they're not on any terrorist watch lists. Which four do you think will be going on the mission? By "pre-approving" trust, you're building a system that is easier to exploit.
By Chris on August 15, 2005 11:30 AM |