Hearing reports of the attempted bomb plot aboard a U.S. bound plane from Amsterdam this Christmas was unsettling for many of us as we were in the midst of our holiday travels. Fortunately, the suspect was brought down and no harm was done to the hundreds of passengers aboard the flight. In the last few days since the failed attempt, officials have been raising a lot of questions about the security measures that are now in place. Many people are calling for airports to add a full-body scanning device for passengers to pass through during the security screening.
The way the device works has left some people unsure about privacy issues and whether a full-body scanner would be an ethical addition to airport security. According to a recent article from CNN, the types of scanners in trial use either high frequency radio waves or high energy rays that are even more detailed than the traditional x-ray. The scanners produce a 3-D image displaying every contour of the body underneath the clothing so it can detect if the passenger is carrying any items against airplane regulations.
People who are opposed to the use of this device say the scanners produce a "naked" image of the passenger which in turn violates their privacy. Another concern is that the officer who reviews the image may abuse his/her power by storing it or even selling it for profit if it were a celebrity passenger.
The U.S. Transportation Security Agency (TSA) insists that the images produced are not compromising in any way and do not show details of a passenger's face, plus the officer who reviews the image sits in a room where they only see the image and not the actual person. TheTSA also states that the scanners are not harmful to health and produce just a small amount of radio waves, less than what is produced from a cell phone.
What do you think of the full-body scanner being added to the security screening process at airports?
Do you think this type of scanner would violate a passenger's privacy?
After having my olive tampanade confiscated for no good reason, I'd welcome a body scan! I am also all for profiling of any kind! We get a little ridiculous when we start frisking little old ladies and confiscating their marmalade! and yet we will die of terminal political correctness before we allow ourselves to profile! Do you hear me, LaGuardia?!
waternymff::
on Jan 27, 2010
we all have to pay for safety, one or another way..
MatanaC::
on Jan 27, 2010
its hard to decide, and I would like to be as safe as possible, but I dont want a random person looking at me, my body and everything i dont want them to see. I'm self-concious about my body enough as it is, and this definitely does not set my mind at ease. Like another member has said, there is no promise that every person behind the monitor will be doing what they should. If we continue to push the limit, there will be no limit. I, personally, would not like to live in that world.
ihatusernames::
on Jan 28, 2010
i don't like the idea for one reason it allready takes forever to get through everything atthe airport just to get to your gate if they add thisi believe that a lot of people who have connecting flights will miss their next flight
flwrpwr::
on Jan 29, 2010
I do not mind as long as it is for security reasons. Those terrorists hope that we object to have full body scanners, so they will continue to do bombs on their private parts like last Christmas 2009 to kill American people, men, women and children on the flights.
The terrorists will always try to find to go around with weak security areas to bomb all American people.
Same goes to women with veils and robes to hide weapons under the robes. Very good place to hide to kill all American people.
Go to the airport several hours early in order not to miss your flights. Good question on those connecting flights?
We gotta to accept for safety and security reasons.
krys2000::
on Feb 04, 2010
I think that this is a total invasion of people's privacy. Not everyone is a terrorist. Not everyone has a bomb in their underwear. Stop treating us like we are prisoners lucky to be going anywhere. This isn't the USSR! We don't need "travel documents!" Find the criminals, root them out BEFORE they get to they get to the airport! Leave the rest of us tax-paying citizens alone.
britt8baby::
on Feb 16, 2010
Where there is a will, there's a way. If somebody really wants to harm people on a plane, then they are going to find a way. It's so scary! The full body scanning may be uncomfortable, but these people are looking at thousands of bodies a day. They aren't taking notes next to your name about how your body looks. This is the airlines way of doing what they can to protect us. I appreciate that they are doing this. The more technology that helps keep us safe, the better! Just always be aware, and be careful!
