Multiple Supreme Court rulings since 1868 have recognized the right to travel, both domestically and, in later rulings, internationally, as a basic constitutional right. The daily reality for travelers is, unfortunately, far from what those rulings promised. As of this year—and after nearly 20 years of delays—the REAL ID Act is now in force, and trying to fly without such a government-approved ID is far more difficult. The post‑9/​11 “watch listing” system, which has never undergone sustained, probing congressional oversight, continues to operate in near-total secrecy. The proliferation of automated license plate readers and related technologies makes it relatively simple for law enforcement organizations to track where you drive, what places you visit, and even who’s traveling with you.

Do those prior court rulings contain loopholes federal officials exploit to monitor our travel? Does the federal practice of “watch listing” pass constitutional muster? Is surveillance of our travel by air or ground transportation simply unavoidable? Does the revolt against Flock cameras by citizens represent the first phase of a national transportation surveillance reform effort? And why does the federal government insist on tracking lobster fishing boats with GPS devices? A distinguished panel of legal and academic experts will debate these and other questions.