Remember the scene in True Lies (1994) where Arnold walks behind the ‘screen’ and you see his skeletal image? Well, welcome to True Lies, 2009. I read an article in a Fast Company blog today titled “Full-body Scanners at Airports: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly“. It included a few sample full-body images, include these:
I am not sure where to start. Given how much I travel, I know my body is about to be viewed by male and female TSA agents everywhere, and very soon. And the ‘viewing’ will be in MUCH greater detail than I care to think about. It is not like the scanners are new. In fact, a June 2006 report in USA Today discussed 10 airports (including Dallas, Las Vegas, NY Kennedy and others), that installed 38 units. To date I have never been through one. I have been in airports that have them, but I have avoided the scan! Well, after the Detroit event, airports everywhere are about to install the technology. Reports earlier today indicate that even Nigeria plans to install this technology. (No, I don’t plan to visit Nigeria).
By now you realize that I am not too excited about about this opportunity. I am even less excited when I think about other family members being scanned. Yes, I would prefer knowing they are safe, but I am still not comfortable with this invasion of privacy. The price of ‘safety’ continue to go up, and I am not sure we are lowering the risk.
Applied properly, I believe we can use a mix of technology to improve security. I think we can do it as a lower cost to privacy, but that’s my opinion at this point. Watch the news as there will be a great deal of discussion regarding this issue in the next few weeks and months.
So, what are your thoughts?
Rick
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Rick,
This is way over the top and big brother needs the people to tell him that this is not acceptable.
Here incompetent bureaucrats in the intelligence services and at TSA cause huge losses of our privacy rights and our dignity. Where does this stop?
In my opinion. we need to vote some sense into our government and in the meanwhile, protest.
Happy New year
WOW…I guess it figures that the government would settle on an option like this! I value my safety and know that we have to take additional measures to protect against terrorist. However, I agree with you, the government should be able to come up with a better and less intrusive option!
Sad thing is, as with health care, its going to happen even though most Americans don’t want it!
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