BBC News is reporting today that the UK's Manchester Airport has stopped using whole body imaging scanners on travelers under the age of 18 because of concerns that the images taken may violate British laws covering indecent images of children.
I've written about whole body imaging scanners before. The images leave nothing to the imagination, allowing airport security personnel to see not only hidden weapons and explosive devices, but also the entire unclothed body of each person being screened - hence the concern over using the scanners on children. According to the TSA, facial features of passengers are blurred during a whole body imaging scan and the images are not retained after the security scanning process is complete.
In light of the assassination attempt on Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in August, in which the would-be assassin hid an explosive device inside either his underwear or in a body cavity, the privacy-versus-security debate takes on greater significance.
What do you think? Should children be exempt from whole body imaging scans? Should everyone? Would it be best if airports gave passengers a choice? Please take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments box.
I hope that less immodest, invasive technologies can be developed. I don’t see it as an issue separating out the under 18s.