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 34oz' 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'
tsa 55 years of age 65 the department of homeland security the government accountability office
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 