US Expands Fingerprint and Mugshot Program for Visitors 1073
prakslash writes "The US State Department has expanded its anti-terrorist fingerprinting program to include visitors from close US allies such as the UK, Australia, France, Germany and Japan. Everytime a visitor enters or leaves the US, they will have to get their mugshot and fingerprints taken - something that used to be mainly limited to your local police precinct. More news can be found here and here. In addition to the huge costs involved, one has to wonder if this will affect tourism to this country." Hmmm, a huge database of digital mugshots and digital fingerprints, which will be kept forever - hope we have enough RAM to search through it quickly and constantly.
Re:Alright, this isn't even funny. (Score:5, Funny)
Big Brother is watching... (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe they could offer the tourists a copy of the photo in a lovely decorated cardboard frame as a memento of their trip.
April 1? (Score:3, Funny)
USA Ignores Canada Yet Again (Score:5, Funny)
I am slighted, shocked and appalled that Canada was not included in this list.
Goddam Americans.
Re:I wouldn't visit the United States (Score:4, Funny)
I can see it now... (Score:4, Funny)
Customs official: Ah. Welcome to the United States, terrorist--I mean, guest. Yeah. Guest.
Tourist: Why, hello there! This is my first time visiting America, and I must say that--
Customs official: Please be quiet. I need to take your photograph then get your fingerprints. This is essential. It is a matter of national security. You must comply or you'll be on the next plane back to whatever country you came from.
Tourist: What? My photograph? My fingerprints? I'm not a terrorist! I'm just a tourist! I'm just here to take in the sights and see what it's like in yank-land!
Customs official: I'm sorry, you're going to have to comply if you want entry into the United States of America. We are not going to use this information we've gathered about you for any nefarious purpose, anyway.
Tourist: You're not? Then why are you collecting it?
Customs official: That's classified.
Tourist: It is? Well, classified be damned! What do you need this information for? I demand my rants! I'm not from some rogue, anti-American nation! I'll have you know I'm a French citizen!
Customs official:
Tourist: What? You have something against France?
Customs official: Calm down. Here. I have something for you to eat. They're freedom--I mean, French, fries. Yeah. French fries. Have one. They're really delicious.
Tourist: Why, thank you...hm, they taste kind of...
Customs official: Look, okay, why don't you just let me get your mugshot. I mean, photograph. Yeah. Because the word "mugshot" has negative connotations. And that's obviously not what I'm doing. I'm not doing anything negative.
Tourist: Um, okay...
Customs official: Nothing at all. Of the kind. This data I'm collecting probably--I mean, this data won't be used against you in any way, shape or form. It's just to protect civil liberties.
Tourist: Okay.
Customs official: It's for your privacy.
Tourist: It's for my privacy? You're collecting information about me for my privacy?
Customs official: Yes. These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Tourist: These aren't the droids I'm looking for?
Customs official: No, they aren't. Come here, let me take your photograph and fingerprint you, you dear Frenchman.
Tourist: I will comply. I have no mind of my own--my own. I will--have my photograph taken.
Customs official (thinks): The drugging worked like a charm, I'll be damned. I'm sure it'll work out perfectly next week when we put these fries into the national food supply and drug them all. Then we'll have control. Ahahahaha!
I have a suggestion (Score:3, Funny)
Does this mean... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Say goodbye to your science conferences... (Score:2, Funny)
Cost of living is cheap, there's free public health and a pension for everyone and...
Wait a minute, what am I saying? I almost let the secret out the bag. Don't come here, it's a horrible place.
Re:Say goodbye to your science conferences... (Score:2, Funny)
I would, but I can't understand the darn accents
Re:what do you want? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I wouldn't visit the United States (Score:5, Funny)
Re:what do you want? (Score:4, Funny)
Don't worry, the rest of the world has already moderated GWB -6billion "Scary".
Re:Alright, this isn't even funny. (Score:2, Funny)
Even the USA?!!!!! Surely not?!
Re:And fingerprints stop hijackings, how? (Score:3, Funny)
Well, they wouldn't, of course. But the second time that guy tries to enter the country to hijack a plane -- we nab him!
Re:Alright, this isn't even funny. (Score:0, Funny)
Don't worry mate... we'll remind ya
Re:Collect finger prints at radical mosques. (Score:1, Funny)
Put this guy into the terrorist database, folks.
Re:Alright, this isn't even funny. (Score:2, Funny)
You won't need to be fingerprinted when you go there, there is a significant amount of culture within 50km, and the food in the area is excellent.
You did mean Disneyland Paris, right?
Re:what do you want? (Score:1, Funny)
Some sort of mechanism which prevents them from entering the airports without first getting out of their cars would seem the obvious solution.
A fence, perhaps?
Re:I Just Cancelled My Ticket. (Score:2, Funny)
We granted visas to some of the 9/11 hijackers months after 9/11. Now, how is that for service. You can't say that we treat our visitors like criminals. Apparently you're allowed in even if you've been part of the worst terrorist attack of all time. Of course, luckily the bastard was already dead so it was just an "honorary" status.