Shockingly inept

Thursday, 10 July 2008 by bbbeard.

The DHS is reportedly looking into disciplining airline passengers with electric shocks.

The Washington Times reports that a “senior government official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security” has expressed great interest in a newfangled bracelet for air travelers. The stylish bracelet conveniently acts as your boarding pass and ID — no more juggling your ticket folder and wallet as you shuffle sock-footed through the security line! And the bracelet will also help you keep track of your luggage. And it also gives your location, which may not seem helpful to you but is bound to make those surly TSA agents seem just a bit less caffeinated. Oh, and I almost forgot — it doubles as a shock collar. Everyone will want one.

A quick Google search for “EMD bracelet” shows this story has been circulating for some months now, but it apparently only surfaced in the MSM today, assuming Wired is not part of the MSM. (Instapundit linked to it, h/t.) So I’m not going to get real worked up over it, but…

Inquiring minds want to know: isn’t this kind of device really easy to defeat if you intend to? Does DHS even know that plastic is an insulator? I would bet that even a lined airsickness bag has enough insulation to mitigate a shock.

And: wouldn’t a hijacker (with a piece of plastic to protect himself) try to gain control over the “laser activator that can activate any bracelet as needed by simply pointing the laser at the bracelet”? Wouldn’t this minimize the risk to the terrorist that the passengers will revert to pack, rather than herd, behavior in a tense situation?

And: is it any wonder people think the DHS is run by idiots?

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