Remember when you were younger and wanted x-ray glasses? Well now all you have to do is get a job with the Transportation Security Administration. This recent article from The Dallas Morning News (dallasnews.com) reports on the newest invasion of privacy when traveling.
The TSA is using a new scanning method which has many people baffled and shocked. The new millimeter wave whole body image device shows what's going on under a traveler's clothes. The TSA argues that this will speed up the screening process...at the expense of someone seeing a 3-D image of what is under your clothes. This will increase security measures since only metal objects are detected via a magnetometer.
Privacy advocates are saying that these images are too revealing. This is the equivalent of being strip searched. The TSA and privacy advocates do not agree on the potential uses for this. Ultimately privacy advocates are saying, "American passengers should not have to parade naked in front of security screeners in order to board the plane."
The TSA has a modesty filter on the machines so that images are not too revealing...how does this help either way? So if I am hiding something it can potentially be blurred...but if I'm not then, I still have a machine basically taking naked photos of me. The screening is completely optional...but the TSA doesn't promote that fact. A passenger can skip the screening and be patted down by security. People are being put through this screening process without even being made aware that it is happening. Is it their fault for not questioning airport security? I would say no...it is the TSA's fault for not letting passengers know what they are being subjected to.
2 comments:
People, get a grip. I seriously doubt that the new X-ray glasses can see your private parts - and if they can who the hell cares. Would you rather be dead or would you rather (possibly) experience a brief moment of embarrassment. There are more important things to think about.
While it's true that I don't care if I go through this device, there are people who will care. Some people are very private and/or very shy. This is somewhat intrusive.
The issue is not that the device is used, it's that people aren't informed and don't know that they have a choice. Travelers should be able to choose the machine or a pat down. Then it's no longer a privacy issue. If they object to both, then they don't get to travel. But at least they are informed of their choices.
Post a Comment