The TSA has banned powerless electronic devices at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the U.S., if on request the owner cannot power up the device (such as a cell phone, tablet, computer). Here's the TSA Web site press release:
“Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States.
As the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are screened by security officers. During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening.”
While nearly everyone seems to have a TSA horror story, and this obviously can present some real problems to those who have inadvertently lost or packed their power cord in checked luggage, or have a broken device they want to take home and fix, there's a reason enhanced security is being put in place.
Namely, security agencies fear the fierce rivalry between ISIS (now calling itself simply the “Islamic State”) whose leaders have declared an Islamic caliphate in the areas of Syria and Iraq that it controls, and al Qaeda, could lead al Qaeda to grab back attention and recruits with terrorist actions on U.S. and Europe-bound flights and bombings in European capitals.
Security agencies also note that terrorists are focusing on non-metallic explosives that can't be detected by airport security screening. This, combined with the concern that al Qaeda will take dramatic terrorist action to stem its relative declines vs. ISIS, is the context for the TSA forcing passengers to either power up powerless devices during security screening, or not take them on the plane.
I'm not a political analyst and don't have any inside information, so I'll leave it to those more in the know to corroborate or debate this news, but to me these seem good reasons to take extra precautions right now, notwithstanding the inconveniences and longer security lines.
What do you think?
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