Cell phones on planes worry US law enforcement

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Paranoia

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
Date: May 28, 2005 11:40:11 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net () warpspeed com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Cell phones on planes worry US law enforcement
Reply-To: dewayne () warpspeed com


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]

Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com>



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