Laptop ban could apply to all flights to US, homeland security chief says

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian and agencies

Laptop ban could apply to all flights to US, homeland security chief says

John Kelly says terrorists are ‘obsessed’ with downing a plane,
‘particularly if it’s a US carrier, particularly if it’s full of mostly US folks’

Staff and agencies
Sunday 28 May 2017 17.53 BST

The Trump administration is considering banning laptops from the passenger cabins of all international flights to and from the US, homeland security secretary John Kelly said on Sunday.

Kelly, a retired general, was asked on Fox News Sunday if he would expand an existing ban to cover laptops on all international flights into and out of the US.

“I might,” he said.

Such a move would dramatically expand the ban, announced in March, that affects about 50 flights per day from 10 cities, mostly in the Middle East.

The ban prevents travelers from bringing laptops, tablets and certain other devices on board in carry-on bags. All electronics bigger than a smartphone must be checked in.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/28/laptop-ban-expand-international-flights-homeland-security

[Thomas Hurt]

1. (scratches head) how does putting the supposed bomb in the cargo bay....

instead of the passenger cabin, insure that if the bomb went off it would not kill everyone anyway....Isn't the cargo area pressurized, they put pets there don't they.

any aeronautical engineers on DU?

[Eugene]

3. The stated reasoning is that checked luggage can be more thoroughly scanned.

Of course, putting lots more devices with batteries in the cargo hold
carries risks of its own.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. This is ridiculous.

There are some things that I do not let ANYONE touch in my luggage when I'm traveling: my laptop, my camera, my medications. These are essential to my well-being, and they are in my control at all times.

If this ban happens, I might have to leave my laptop home if I go abroad.

[Else You Are Mad]

4. I have a feeling...

That this is a way for intelligence and police agencies to gain access to the private information found on checked laptops as much as it is to prevent bombings. Think about it, the laptops will be out of the hands of the owner when it both is loaded and unloaded. How hard would it be for someone to take the information off of the laptop?

[luvMIdog]

5. no worries. No one wants to come here anymore anyway :(

[nitpicker]

6. Who could win?

The virtual teleconferencing firms?

Webinars?

Transmitting info via proprietary networks?

Who loses?

Maybe the international business travel industry...