Intel bill expands use of watch lists

WASHINGTON - Anyone who works at an airport or aboard a cruise ship will have his identity checked against government watch lists, just like commercial airline passengers.

The change, included in the intelligence bill passed by Congress this week, means hundreds of thousands of additional names will be compared with those on two lists - one for people suspected of terrorism, the other for people the government says require additional scrutiny for some reason.

Cruise passengers, but not crews, already are checked against the lists within 15 minutes of a ship's departure. Once President Bush signs the bill into law, it will require passengers and crews to be checked before the ship sets sail.

Sen. Bill Nelson, who sponsored the cruise ship provision, said as many as 5,000 passengers and 1,500 crew members can travel on a cruise ship.

"What you have is a floating city," said Nelson, D-Fla. "You cannot be too cautious."

Supporters say the changes add a layer of security, but critics contend the lists are more apt to mistakenly brand innocent people. The government doesn't disclose criteria for placing people on the lists, how many names are listed or any identities.

"To expand the use of something that's already so error-prone is shocking," said Marcia Hofmann, attorney for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based advocacy group.

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