Are The Use of Full Body Scanners Really Worth The Potential Health Risk
Posted by William Edward Mason in Uncategorized, tags: airports, business travel, internet, safety, security, travel, Uncategorized, vacationSome airfields in the U.S. are currently using Automated Imaging Technology or AIT. Also known as a full-body scanner, it is here where passengers have to go through ahead of boarding. In addition to the usual pat-down, the use of this piece of equipment spares passengers from “body contact” with the airport security representative. A few dispute that AIT is “better” in contrast with the pat-down, but privacy advocate groups believe otherwise.
In Washington, this privacy group communicated with the U.S. Court of Appeals judges. They said that the usage of full-body scanners is an “unreasonable search” as well as an infringement of a passenger’s civil rights. This apparatus is at this moment being used at airports as their first line of protection at security checkpoints.
As a passenger passes through the full-body scanner, his naked image is shown. This is the main reason for such alarm from the group. It possibly will be safely surmised that although travelers have been spared from the bodily contact, a more invasive one was replaced. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) states that the policy is “in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution”. In addition, it also violates “laws defending privacy and religious freedom”.
In defense on the use of this modern equipment, the government responded that procedures are in place to defend the privacy of passengers. They clarified that a passengers’ identity is never made accessible to the “viewers” who are customarily agents at airports. This, the government says, makes the search logical and “minimally invasive”. Then again, the truth to this question is not yet certain.
EPIC has also told the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to put off the use of such technology. TSA answered that, at present, almost 98 percent of passengers go through full-body scanning of their own volition. Only around 2 percent of passengers would take a pat-down instead. EPIC lawyer Marc Rotenberg said it could be likely that passengers do not know that they still have the pat-down as their alternative.
Even the judges themselves also expressed angst on the way TSA has been given the authority to use the equipment. One is the effect of the body scanner on individual travelers. It is possible that it is too late to learn its injurious effects on passengers. There should have been public consultation for inputs before it went into basic use. Its use should only be selective especially as soon as the level of security threat is too low to warrant.
There are a number of risks when you travel. In addition to full body scanning, you also have to be safe when you use a public hot spot to connect to the Internet. Just like with body scanning, you have a choice. You can use an Anonymous Proxy to shield your Internet identity.
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