Feds Fear Air Broadband Terror

[Brad Isaac]

Wired Magazine is reporting that federal law enforcement wants to snoop into WiFi activity used by airline customers. Apparently, there is a possibility that terrorsts could coordinate attacks using the system. In joint comments filed with the FCC last Tuesday, the Justice Department, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security warned that a terrorist could use on-board internet access to communicate with confederates on other planes, on the ground or in different sections of the same plane -- all from the comfort of an aisle seat.
"There is a short window of opportunity in which action can be taken to thwart a suicidal terrorist hijacking or remedy other crisis situations on board an aircraft, and law enforcement needs to maximize its ability to respond to these potentially lethal situations," the filing reads.
What do you make of this? Can terrorists really use airline wifi to set off bombs? Or is this a violation of search and seizure laws?

[cteel2004]

from a legal standpoint this isn't a violation of search and seizure.
Once you step on board an airplane (or into an airport) you sign away alot of rights including speech. For example you can't say 'hi' to a friend named Jack.
I think the constitutional reasoning behind this is the "congressional power to regulate interstate commerce" clause.
Also I think it is generally viewed that being aboard an airplane you are completely puting your safety in the federal government's hands and as a result they are completely in charge. .