TSA Coming to a Mall Near You?

Napolitano Says DHS Looking to Increase Control Over Hotels, Malls

by Jason Ditz, December 26, 2010

Could your next trip to the food court at your local shopping mall include an enhanced patdown? Its more likely than you may think, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

In addition to repeating her references about the hopes of spreading the onerous “security” apparatus from the airport to trains and subway stations, Napolitano also tapped hotels and shopping malls as the next targets on her wish list.

The first in this effort came earlier in the month, when the Department of Homeland Security started installing video screens to chide shoppers to rat on other suspicious-looking shoppers. It won’t end there, however.

Though Napolitano stopped short of explicitly calling for the TSA’s “enhanced patdown” systems and heavy handed full body scans for shoppers, when security becomes a goal the DHS’ only answer seems to be major moves against personal privacy. The TSA is clearly the administration’s model for protection, and whether it is flying the friendly skies or getting a pretzel from Hot Sam’s, official eyes, and inevitably officials’ hands must fall on the general public.

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