TSA paid IBM $47,000 for app that randomly tells passengers to go left or right and could be created by a developer in less than 10 MINUTES for $20
- It was originally reported that the app cost $1.4 million but that was the amount the Department of Homeland Security paid IBM in a larger contract
- The total development cost for the randomizer app was $47,400, a TSA spokesperson said
- Developer Chris Pacia says his rate is $100 per hour and that since the app only took 10 minutes, the app is worth around $20
- Airports no longer use the randomizer app which randomly told passengers which of them could go through express clearance
The Transportation Security Administration paid IBM $47,000 for a simple app that tells passengers whether to go left or right.
It was originally reported by Geek that the app cost a cool $1.4 million but developer Kevin Burke was able to find a breakdown of the cost by filing a Freedom of Information Act request for the contract behind the app.
As it turns out the $1.4 million was part of a larger contract between the Department of Homeland Security and IBM.
A TSA agent is pictured here using the randomizer app which randomly told passengers which of them could go through express clearance. It cost roughly $47,000 to make
It was originally reported that the app cost a cool $1.4 million but developer Kevin Burke was able to find a breakdown of the cost by filing a Freedom of Information Act request for the contract behind the app. As it turns out the $1.4 million was part of a larger contract (pictured) between the TSA and IBM
Share this article
The total development cost for the randomizer app was $47,400, a TSA spokesperson told Mashable, which was part an amount of $336,413.59 designated towards 'mobile application development.'
The TSA would not elaborate on what other developments they are planning for the future and how those specific funds will be allocated.
The money could include the price of the tablets themselves, according to Mashable.
Despite touting a lower price than originally reported, the TSA still paid thousands of dollars for an app that some developers say can be created in mere minutes.
Developer Chris Pacia posted video of himself creating a similar app in less than 10 minutes.
Pacia says his rate is $100 per hour and that since the app only took 10 minutes, he'd only be awarded $20, according to Business Insider.
Pacia said he'd likely spend more time 'loading' the program than writing code.
The TSA no longer uses the randomizer app which was part of a program called 'managed inclusion,' which would make it more difficult for terrorists to predict patterns in checkout lines and also make racial profiling less of an issue, according to Mashable.
The program was ended in 2015 after the TSA put a convicted felon in a pre-check line in which he was not made to remove his shoes. The program ended over 'security concerns.'
Developer Kevin Burke was able to find a breakdown of the cost by filing a Freedom of Information Act request for the contract behind the app
Going rate: Developer Chris Pacia posted video (pictured) of himself creating a similar app in less than 10 minutes. Pacia says his rate is $100 per hour and that since the app only took 10 minutes, he'd only be awarded $20
Most watched News videos
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- Rayner says to 'stop obsessing over my house' during PMQs
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Brazen thief raids Greggs and walks out of store with sandwiches
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court over sexual offence charges
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port
