Airport investigators, fresh after marking the 9/11 anniversary, are gathering in the GTA to share information on the latest security threats to the flying public. Police said threats made on social media against Pearson airport, other airports, and the threat of attacks by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drones, are some of the issues facing investigators at a conference next month.

More than 130 airport cops and security experts from around the world will be here for the third annual International Airport Investigators’ Training Symposium, from Oct. 7 to 9 at the Westin-Bristol Place Hotel near Pearson.

Det. Steve Rowland, of Peel Regional Police, said information gleaned from social media can be double-checked with other sources to determine if a threat is genuine.

“Social media is monitored at many airports,” said Rowland. “We can use social media intelligence in relation with other information to find out what’s going on at the airport.”

Police say the chatter is monitored through the use of a computer software that detect threats against passengers and aircraft traveling through Canada’s busiest airport.

He said key words are entered into a software program that searches for hits on dozens of popular social media sites. The hits can be tracked to an end-user, police say.

A huge concern is posed by long-range UAVs that can be purchased in stores and flown from concealed areas over airport property.

“There are no laws in place against flying a UAV around airport property,” Rowland said.

“Anyone could purchase one of these things and just fly them. There is no legislation as to where they can be flown.”