Registered Traveler is a pilot program run by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It was introduced after CAPPS and CAPPS II were cancelled. Currently, it is being used in a pilot phase, but Registered Traveler is scheduled to be implemented fully later this year.Unfortunately, Registered Traveler seems to be more invasive than both CAPPS and CAPPS II, which both had major privacy problems themselves. Registered Traveler is voluntary, but those who participate must submit personal identifying information (e.g. name, phone number), undergo background checks, biometric iris recognition, and fingerprinting. If there are no indicators of a terrorist background, an individual will receive his registered traveler card.Because Registered Traveler collects biometric information, it is more invasive than CAPPS II. Although Registered Traveler is voluntary, privacy advocacy groups worry that biometric information will now be collected for other programs which are mandatory. Currently, RT is being piloted at Orlando International Airport and four other airports. However, TSA has been slow in expanding the program due to discussions with private contractors regarding security standards.An individual needs to pay a fee in order to be an RT; after paying the fee, safe individuals who are RTs can skip more thorough security checks at airports. In other words, the government is permitting individuals to buy their way out of security checks, and violating privacy in the mean time.Additionally, the RT program is extremely costly; the government has spent 20 million dollars just on the pilot program, according to EPIC. Also, passengers will not have the privacy protections set forth in the Privacy Act of 1974, since that only applies to government agencies. So, there is definitely the risk that this information obtained through RT will be used for other reasons besides counter-terrorism.Find out more about RT:EPIC on RThttp://www.epic.org/privacy/surveillance/spotlight/1005/Washington Post Article on Excess Background Information Require for RThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/20/AR2006012001812.htmlRegistered Traveler as the Villain of the Weekhttp://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200403/msg00227.html