A behavioral checklist that the Transportation Security Administration uses to help identify airport travelers they believe could be potential terrorists has been revealed . The Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques system , nicknamed SPOT , breaks down body language and demeanor the TSA believes indicates either 'stress ' or 'deception ' . Mannerisms are assigned points based on their severity and are assessed by trained 'Behavior Detection Officers ' , who observe passengers as they go through the security checkpoint . Behaviors are given points based on their perceived severity . If you walk through security with a 'face pale from recent shaving of beard ' or happen to be yawning or whistling , you can be assigned one point . Scroll down for video . It has been revealed that the Transportation Security Administration uses a behavioral checklist , nicknamed SPOT , to help identify potential terrorists among airport travelers ( file photo ) A strong body odor , sweaty palms and a bobbing Adam 's apple can also get you one point , according to the checklist obtained by The Intercept . Having 'widely open eyes ' will get you two points , as will showing 'unusual ' interest in a security officer 's work routine or having 'identical luggage or dress ' to an individual who does not seem related to you . Appearing to be in disguise will get you three points . But you can also get points shaved off . If you appear to be a member of a family or part of a married couple , you get two points deducted from your score . Being a female over 55 , or a male over 65 , gets you a one point reduction . The checklist includes a list of items and behaviors to look out for if a passenger is pulled aside for inspection . 'Suspicious ' items range from blueprints to liquids 'in excess of 3.4oz ' . Further signs of deception include excessive yawning or perspiration and lacking details about the purpose of one 's trip . The SPOT program , which has cost more than $ 800million since its inception in 2007 , was deemed ineffective by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Government Accountability Office last year . SPOT breaks down body language the TSA believes indicates 'stress ' or 'deception ' , including sweaty palms , a strong body odor , widely opened eyes or a bobbing Adam 's apple ( file photo ) The GAO found that there was no scientific evidence to support the SPOT 's claim that terrorists can be picked out via 'behavioral indicators ' , and said the human 's ability to 'accurately identify ' suspicious behavior is 'slightly better than chance ' . The Department of Homeland Security report said that the TSA had not assessed the effectiveness of the SPOT program or designed a 'comprehensive training program ' for it . It concluded that the TSA could not 'ensure that passengers at United States airports are screened objectively ' with SPOT and did not believe the administration could 'justify the program 's expansion ' . TSA was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union last week for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the SPOT program . The ACLU is alleging that the program leads to racial profiling . A spokesperson with the TSA told the Intercept that 'behavior detection ' was just 'one element ' of the administration 's efforts to 'mitigate threats against the traveling public ' . 'No single behavior alone will cause a traveler to be referred to additional screening or will result in a call or a law enforcement officer . ' 'Officers are trained and audited to ensure referrals for additional screening are based only on observable behaviors and not race or ethnicity ' .
The Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques system breaks down body language the TSA believes indicates 'stress ' or 'deception ' Mannerisms are assigned points based on their severity and are assessed by trained 'Behavior Detection Officers ' Other traits the TSA watch for include a 'face pale from recent shaving of beard , ' yawning or whistling , a strong body odor and 'widely opened eyes ' Points are shaved off if you are married , a member of a family , a woman over 55 years of age , or a man over 65 . Both the Department of Homeland Security and the Government Accountability Office have found the program to be ineffective .