Would you be willing to let a stranger see you naked in the name of security? This question may be the one you face the next time that you travel to the United States from a Canadian airport. In the aftermath of the Christmas Day foiled airplane bombings, airport security measures are increasing. One of the newest strategies implemented by the Canadian government is the use of the controversial full-body scanning machines.
Prior to the proposed implementation of the scanners, each individual would step through a metal detector, and those who required extra security screening would be thoroughly frisked by an officer. Now, everyone must step through the newly-implemented full-body scanners, which has highly developed technology is capable of seeing through clothing and creating a three-dimensional naked model on a screen. If you choose not to go through the scanner, the only alternative is a thorough frisk.
What makes this new airport security method so controversial? Critics argue this machine is a threat to the right to privacy. With only the face blurred, the image created by the full body scan is graphic. Protesters compare it to a “virtual strip search”. This can be seen as a fair comparison since a naked image is manufactured by the scan. (source)
Supporters counteract that human privacy remains intact despite the full body scan. Measures are being taken to protect privacy. These include blurring the face on the image, isolating the viewing officer in a separate room where s/he can not see the traveler, and completing the scan in under one minute. Those in favour of the machine’s implementation claim that these measures make it less invasive than a physical pat-down, which can last between 2 to 3 minutes, publicly, and in direct contact with an officer.
Another area of concern is the effectiveness of the machine. Critics cite studies done in Britain which point towards the machines failures. For example, they are not always capable of recognizing “soft-mass material”. Another worry is that in depending on these highly technological machines, security staff may become careless paying attention to security measures.
However, for now, the machines are being implemented as a new security measure. Also for now the choice still remains with the traveler going through security. S/he can decide if they would prefer a physical pat-down or a full-body scan. The only questions that remain are which would you choose and how long will airport security continue to give you the right to make that choice?
By Aleksandra Sagan
Blog Writer 2009-2010, Change Tomorrow’s World
