From Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Europeans and others who travel visa-free to the United States can start registering in August for a new online security screening check that will become mandatory in January to enter the U.S., officials said Monday.
The new security measure will replace current paper forms that foreign visitors from the 27 countries that participate in the U.S. visa waiver program have to fill out once they enter U.S. territory at airports and seaports. It will not apply to land border crossings into the United States, where authorities will continue to use the paper forms.
So, why is it that I have an uneasy feeling about this program? Sure travelers would also have to provide all of their other info and fingerprints (mmm, Gummi) but, with this higher level of “automation” will this make it easier to breach the battlements? It appears that they’re moving ever closer to a screening process that removes the element of human intervention. Mind you I could be seeing this in a much darker light than is intended.
Hmm.