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New Focus of Airport Safety: Your Smile

Officers watch passengers' facial expressions in new security program

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 17, 2007 2:12 PM CDT

(Newser) – Put on a brave face the next time you're at the airport; your expression might be under scrutiny. New security programs at more than a dozen airports are using undercover personnel who watch passengers' faces for indications of criminality. When trying to deceive others, a criminal still exhibits flashes of fear or scorn that officers are being trained to detect.

So-called "behavior detection officers" work as a pair: one of them will approach a suspect while the other watches his or her body language and facial expressions. Homeland Security has high hopes for the program, which is based on a longstanding Israeli operation.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff speaks during a news conference  at Washington's Reagan National Airport, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007, to announce new international flight screening procedures.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff speaks during a news conference at Washington's Reagan National Airport, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007, to announce new international flight screening procedures....   (Associated Press)
le Rock and some other U.S. airports. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
le Rock and some other U.S. airports. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)   (Associated Press)
Passengers pass through security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Thursday, May 31, 2007. It's been a busy summer travel season for the major airlines, with some carriers posting record occupancy loads on their planes. Airline profits for the April-June period are expected to be higher than a year...
Passengers pass through security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Thursday, May 31, 2007. It's been a busy summer travel season for the major airlines, with some carriers...   (Associated Press)
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