[IP] Cell phones on planes worry US law enforcement
Paranoia
Begin forwarded message:
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: May 28, 2005 11:40:11 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Cell phones on planes worry US law enforcement
Reply-To: dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cell phones on planes worry US law enforcement
Fri May 27, 2005 03:26 PM ET
By Jeremy Pelofsky
<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?
type=technologyNews&storyID=8631101&src=rss/technologyNews>
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Allowing airline passengers to use personal
cell phones during flights could help potential hijackers coordinate
an attack or trigger a bomb smuggled on board, U.S. security
officials have told regulators.
The U.S. Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and
Federal Bureau of Investigation late on Thursday outlined the
potential dangers associated with allowing cell phone use during
plane flights, as the Federal Communications Commission has proposed
if safety issues can be resolved.
The Federal Aviation Administration would also have to approve any
rule change.
At present personal cell phones and other communication devices must
be switched off at takeoff, landing and for the duration of
commercial flights because it could potentially interfere with the
operation of the plane.
While some have told the FCC they worry about an increase in loud,
irritating chatter on flights, law enforcement officials were focused
on preventing a possible attack.
"The uniqueness of service to and from an aircraft in flight presents
the possibility that terrorists and other criminals could use air-to-
ground communications systems to coordinate an attack," they said in
comments to the FCC.
During Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, passengers and crew on the hijacked
planes used cell phones as well as phones embedded in the seats to
call for help and talk to loved ones.
If the cell phone ban were lifted, law enforcement authorities worry
an attacker could use the device to coordinate with accomplices on
the ground, on another flight or seated elsewhere on the same plane.
If wireless phones are to be allowed in-flight, the law enforcement
agencies urged that users be required to register their location on a
plane before placing a call and that officials have fast access to
call identification data.
"There is a short window of opportunity in which action can be taken
to thwart a suicidal terrorist hijacking or remedy other crisis
situations on board an aircraft," the agencies said in the comments.
The security officials also worried that personal phone use could
increase the risk of a remotely-controlled bomb being used to bring
down an airliner. But they acknowledged simple radio-controlled
explosive devices have been used in the past on planes and the first
line of defense was security checks at airports.
Still, "the departments believe that the new possibilities generated
by airborne passenger connectivity must be recognized," they said.
[snip]
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