Whole Body Imaging - Useful Screening Tool or Invasion of Privacy?
According to Birge Amondson, About.com's Guide to Germany Travel, the German government voted last week to oppose the EU's plan to implement whole body imaging technology at German airports, citing personal privacy as the reason for this decision.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is testing 40 whole body imaging scanners at airports around the country, including two airports near my home. TSA plans to add 80 more scanners by next spring. My husband has been through one of these scanners, and a TSA employee told him that the scanner who reviews passenger images can "see everything," just as though you were walking through the scanner without wearing clothes.
The TSA wants to use whole body imaging to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks. Privacy advocates say the whole body imaging technology goes too far. According to Der Spiegel, the German news website, German politicians have compared the whole body imaging scan to an "officially-ordered striptease" and "mischief."
What do you think? Do we need to use whole body imaging technology to stay safe while traveling, or is it just too invasive? Take our poll or leave a comment below.
Photo © David McNew / Getty Images
Oh wow, I spent 14 years in the airline industry and I haven’t heard anything about this. I guess I’ve been away too long. I voted for having to see results before deciding. I’d like to see the actual screen the security people see. It’s hard to imagine that the image would look exactly like you, but naked. If it does, I think it’s going too far. If it’s a more stylized image that shows hidden weapons but not true and bare body parts, then it might be a good idea. Idk.
I’d have to see the results too – I certainly don’t want the security people having x-ray vision like Superman!
I’m not sure. Personally I don’t like the idea at all. But safety is the top concern while traveling.
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The millimetre-wave radar produces a color-enhanced image of contours, but from what I’ve seen in test images, the colours are not “from nature”. The system can detect things like plastic explosives/weapons that would only be detected by sniffers or thorough “pat downs”. The image is computer-processed, so maybe improved computer processing power in the future will enable operators to rapidly adjust image sensitivity over “sensitive” areas. Until then, pity the operators – we all know that for 95% of the population, clothes are a blessing for society! Who would like to look at “that” all day!
Provided the scanners are safe and won’t cause health issues in the future (frequent flyer concern), I’d rather lose my modesty for 2 minutes than my life or those of others. Sadly our world is not the safe place it used to be — Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.
Yikes! It seems as though there’s a new reason every week for me to avoid flying.
Keeping security concerns I think its ok . may be better than human search,. These security officers some times go beyond privacy and we dont undertsand they are searching or….
As Its said there is no way to store images, So i think its ok…
The only way to stop the machines is to stop flying. When it hits the airlines in the pocketbook, they will have to re-consider.
This is an outrage to every previous rape victim, mastectomy patient and people with post traumatic stress after sexual assault