A new body scanning device at Heathrow Terminal 4 produces a “naked” image of passengers by bouncing X-rays off their skin, enabling staff instantly to spot any hidden weapons or explosives.
But the graphic nature of the black and white images it generates — including revealing outlines of men and women — has raised concerns about privacy both amongst some travellers.
Security officials claim it is a far more effective way of countering potential terrorists because it detects the outline of any solid object — such as plastic explosives or ceramic knives — which conventional metal detectors would miss.
Managers at Heathrow also say the new technology does away with the need to subject passengers to potentially intrusive hand searches. However, travellers who have been screened — and have asked to see the images — have been surprised by their clarity.
Of course not everyone is keen on having a full body scan –
Here’s an extract from the American Civil Liberties Union…
There are some security measures that are extremely intrusive and should only be used when there is good cause to suspect that an individual is a security risk. Low-dose X-ray machines such as – Body Search – are in use in some airports by the Customs Service to search for drugs and other contraband. The ACLU is concerned that these searches have been conducted without good cause and based on profiles that are racially discriminatory. In addition, these machines are capable of projecting an image of a passenger’s naked body. We oppose using this as part of a routine screening procedure. Passengers expect privacy underneath their clothing and should not be required to display highly personal details of their bodies such as evidence of mastectomies, colostomy appliances, penile implants, catheter tubes and the size of their breasts or genitals as a pre-requisite to boarding a plane. However, such technology may be used in place of an intrusive search, such as a body cavity search, when there is probable cause sufficient to support such a search.
So what’s the answer?
According to the ACLU – “Searches have been based on profiles that are racially discriminatory”
– No worries. Everyone goes through or gets on the bus home – that way it’s all fair.
Is it really racial discrimination anyway? Let’s face it – if you’re dressed up in one of those ‘pillar box’ outfits that makes you look like a berk (I forget what you call them), then you look like you’ve something to hide. Unsurprisingly the authorities may get a little suspicious – is it really surprising when you get singled out?
I mean how far do we let people go in the name of religion – next thing they’ll be trying to get through security in a cupboard.
I for one would be much happier to know that everyone had been properly searched before some other clown decides to stuff his Y fronts with Semtex. We need this technology in every airport before one of these trainee terrorists reads the instruction manual and learns how to actually activate a detonator.
As for people with undesirable bodies being offended – well get over it – I’m sure a highly trained operator looking at thousands of images a day isn’t going to be that interested in your spare tyre or plastic breasts.
The TSA has decided not to deploy the device at American airports until manufacturers can develop an electronic means of masking sensitive body parts – Of course we all know the trouble with that – these chumps would be hiding explosives in the strangest places – experience has shown that if we leave them an opening they’ll use it!