Professional Documents
Culture Documents
16 Secondary Security Screening Selection
16 Secondary Security Screening Selection
Selectee, known by its initials SSSS, is an airport security measure in the United States
which selects passengers for additional inspection. People from certain countries are
subject to it by default.[1] The passengers may be known as Selectee, Automatic
Selectee or the Selectee list.[1] The size and contents of the list fluctuates and is a
secret, although the Transportation Security Administration has stated there are tens of
thousands of names on it.[2]
The Selectee list has been cited by civil liberties groups to be infringing on privacy rights
and potential for racial and ethnic discrimination.[3]
SSSS passengers will go through a more intensive screening process which may
include enhanced pat-downs.[clarification needed] Their carry-on luggage may also be inspected
by hand. In the case of film or other items that cannot be X-rayed, the agent may
perform a test for possible explosive materials. The screener may also use a hand
held metal detector to search the passenger for metal objects.[1]
Selection criteria[edit]
Neither the TSA nor the airlines publish the criteria that are used when boarding
passes are issued to identify passengers who will be given extra screening or be denied
boarding.