Body scans or body searches on airports?
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s attempt to blow up Northwest flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit on Friday failed, but he did succeed in taking 80 grammes of explosive PETN powder on board. The question being raised in the Netherlands is whether he should have been subjected to a so-called millimetre wave scan before boarding at Schiphol airport. The Amsterdam airport bought equipment that uses waves to scan the outlines of passengers’ bodies in 2007.
A millimetre wave scan creates an image that resembles a photo negative of a person’s body. The package of pentaerythritol tetranitrate under the Nigerian’s clothes would have been detected if this had been used.
But the equipment has been standing idle for over two years now. Schiphol is only allowed to test it with passenger’s express consent and the European Commission has suspended the implementation of the technology, which was originally scheduled for next year, saying it needed more time to review its pros and cons.
The technology is controversial because the scan is so detailed it makes a person look naked on the security staff’s screen. Politicians in the Netherlands have been debating the issue of privacy since Schiphol purchased the equipment. Last year Naïma Azough, a member of parliament for the Dutch Green party, challenged justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin to take the scan himself and prove it would not show his genitals. She also raised questions about who had access to the scans and if those of men and women would be reviewed by people of their own sex, as is the case with body searches.
On the opposite side of the political spectrum, right-wing liberals and Christian democrats on Monday demanded the technology be implemented immediately. Christian democrat Sybrand van Haersma Buma dismissed the privacy claims as “tall stories”.
What do you think? Has the attempted attack aboard NW 253 made it clear airport security can’t be too tight? Or should scans remain voluntary to protect passengers’ privacy? And would you personally prefer a body scan or a body search before boarding a plane?
Monday 28 December 2009, 17:42
SCHURINGA
First of all; hurray for Jasper Schuringa who subdued Abdulmutallab. The Dutch media should pay much more attention to his heroism. Ever since the criminal abandonment of duty by Dutchbat in Sreberenica, the Dutch are internationally known as cowards, and have an inferiority complex. Nothing had happened to compensate for our international disgrace until now, until the heroism of Japser Schuringa. So let’s milk the international attention our hero gets. Let’s use it to give the Dutch nation some pride again.
AZOUGH
OK, now for the subject of conversation proper: I understand why Naïma Azough objected against use of the body scan at Schiphol. The Dutch Green party is against too much information in the hands of Big Brother, since democracy is no guarantee for just or wise government. We have already seen abuse of such powers and information.
On the other hand, the Green Party could make an exception for security at airports, if only to discourage people from flying. The fewer people fly, the better it is for the environment.
I know (and regret) that the three monotheistic religions are extremely prudish about the naked body, but there are circumstances in which the devout should abandon their shame; when dealing with physicians, tailors and security officers. If segregation of gender helps to comply with religious dogma, it seems a little effort to comply with that desire, but personally I don’t think it is more intimidating to be measured up by women than by a group of gay size queens.
Monday 28 December 2009, 19:02
I am for the body search but if the autharities would like to opt the body scanning then in that case it should be compulsory for every body (including the heads of governments,ministers,members of the parliaments etc). Otherwise this would create many social problems and then possible new threats from the extremists.
We should realize that measures to tighten the security to get 100% perfect results can never be assured ( who ever were responsible for the security checks in case of the attacks on the twin towers,Pentagon could go through for those most unfortunate incidents in the new millenium,then how can be the security at the Amsterdam or any other International Air Port fault-less??
Of course measures have to be considered but what ever the methods are finalized, they should be applied on every single individual going to fly irrespective of their name or personality.
Hijacking for any reasons needs to be condemned and I should request for their trials at the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC of The Hague) to let the potential hijackers now that International Community see them as ‘Enemies of the Humanity’ and they deserve rigorous punishments!
Tuesday 29 December 2009, 12:15
Water always runs to the lowest point, terrorism will find a weak spot. Only the absence of water -or terrorism- can solve the problem completely.
So what to do to make sure no terrorism occurs any more? By giving people a fair chance and a little freedom for instance.
By not leaning back when human rights are trampled on in the middle east. By not condemning the customs of others, but by asking for the permission not to be condemned for our own customs, whteher they are religious or not.
As for body scans, I’m indifferent to this kind of privacy, which does not put me into categories. I’m much more worried about the databases that will assess my complete background and behaviour. These “fuzzy logic systems” might consider me a threat whereas I do not consider myself one.
As for self-fullfilling prophecy’s: when opposed most people tend to react more violently.
Tuesday 29 December 2009, 18:49
A pat down is also an invasion of my privacy … If I could choose, I would rather be given a body scan, as long as it is proven beyond doubt that such a scan is not harmful to my health.
Tuesday 29 December 2009, 23:31
As long as there is a human interface in this process, there will be cases of information leaks in the system and news of the genital endowment of male celebrities will soon become common knowledge.
Friday 1 January 2010, 14:25
The terrorists have won in my view as I will not visit North America ever again after this, having been a frequent flyer until now. Flying has already become an unpleasant experience. The one hour ban from using the toilets will easily become 2.5 hours of not being ale to perform a basic bodily function due to 300+ people having to queue up before the 1 hour time. (those still queuing will be forced to return to their seats) Then planes are routinely delayed 30 minutes or more waiting for a final landing slot. Then there will be another 30 minutes delay on the ground whilst isles are blocked/de-boarding. The body scan will far exceed what was considered to be a safe level of radiation at a time when sterility and some cancers are already at all time highs. They might try to tell us it is no worse than some cell phone calls but those of us in the know already limit cell phone use to the absolute minimum and certainly do not expose our, what used to be “private” parts intentionally to close range radiation exposure.
The risk of a terrorist having a bomb on a given flight is miniscule yet we have to suffer to this degree! We don’t have these measures in night-clubs, shopping centres, public events, other forms of transport, sports stadium etc. If we did then the terrorists really would have won because it would not be a life that I would consider worthy of living.
Monday 4 January 2010, 20:09
I am not a religious woman, but I find full body scans obnoxious violations of my privacy. Why do I a senior citizen with no criminal record or even the strength to undertake the physical demands of terrorism have to undergo such an exam just to take a flight? Why is my discomfort of lesser seriousness than the additional attention given to passengers who fit a particular “profile”? No method is foolproof, as shown by the twarted Christmas Day incident, but disdaining its use is just stupid.
Both Europe and North America are intimidated by the primary group that most terrorists belong to. Strange how Europe never cared how it offended other ethnic groups over many centuries.
Saturday 9 January 2010, 1:45
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Benjamin Franklin
The terrorists have already won, we are the losers and I suspect the people who make adult diapers will make a killing…ciao
Monday 11 January 2010, 19:22
Damn, that sound’s so easy if you think about it.
Monday 11 January 2010, 21:11
Backscatter x-ray machines “tear apart DNA”
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/154196
How Terahertz Waves Tear Apart DNA
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24331/
Wednesday 20 January 2010, 5:41
The islamofacists have stuffed travel for everyone. When will true (western) civilisation stand up to the ridiculous nature of terrorism protected by a world view masquerading as a religion?
Wednesday 20 January 2010, 15:08
Body Scan is not enough, Brain Scan, Kidney Scan, Urine Sample, Blood Sample, Brain Marrow scan, Lung x-ray, Stomach Pump to name but a few may, I assert, may ENSURE there are no lethal substance on a person. Air travel is now such disgusting an experience, I refuse to travel by air. The person found guilty of behaving in such cruel manner ,with no regard for babies, children, parents, disabled persons and everyone elses`s lives, should be hanged, drawn and quartered in public. We tend to treat these mindless morons too kindly.
Saturday 23 January 2010, 12:38
I have no problems whatsoever with a body scan, especially if this means physical internal examination can be avoided in this way.
@ mr. Chaudry: rest assured: I have seen pilots and flight attendants at Schiphol going through severe checks. I have seen lawyers needing to take their shoes of and putting them through security scanners before entering a prison, etc.
In Holland, it is the people working at customs themselves that should be watched.
Saturday 23 January 2010, 16:07
I wonder what is wrong with this world and the way some people think. Sex is everywhere pronography is everywhere and nakedness is everywhere yet some people have a problem with having their privacy invaded when the concern is safety for your life. These scanners have been around for two or more years and haven’t been used except with the permission of passengers is so absurd. Why would a terrorist allow to be searched? The use of scanners should be no question. Sometimes the world is beyond me.
Sunday 24 January 2010, 18:10
If I would be sex-addicted or worse pedofile I would opt for a job on the scanner, free pic’s and no chance to be caught!
Please people wake-up! if someone want to attack they can do it everywhere, they only take planes because the cost for security will wear us out.
You can’t win a war like this, but then; do the people in power want to win this war?
And after all who is really kept under?
Saturday 30 January 2010, 6:02
Not as intrusive as a cavity search. Or would you rather just toss a coin and hope someone does not have a bomb on your flight? Swallow your false pride, get scanned, and show the jihadists we can take it and get on with our lives. If we meekly restrict our freedom to move about, they win.
Tuesday 2 February 2010, 23:02
I am for a body scan as long as the persons perusing my images are attractive young female officers.
Tuesday 16 March 2010, 4:29
I would like to have a body scan at my disposal.
It would be a real ice breaker at parties.
Wednesday 17 March 2010, 19:14
“I wonder what is wrong with this world and the way some people think. Sex is everywhere pronography is everywhere and nakedness is everywhere yet some people have a problem with having their privacy invaded when the concern is safety for your life. These scanners have been around for two or more years and haven’t been used except with the permission of passengers is so absurd. Why would a terrorist allow to be searched? The use of scanners should be no question. Sometimes the world is beyond me.”
That’s been called “social engeneering” …”conditioning”,You’re making exactely the point of what kind of behavior is expected from you in this area at least.
How can somebody without passport get on board? Try it yourself…you won’t succeed…..something wrong with that picture?
Or was it mayeb that these regulations were waiting there before these incidences and then get pushed through quickly?
“I would like to have a body scan at my disposal.
It would be a real ice breaker at parties.”
Like a real sociopath you will get these employees that ar indeed busy with that and ofcourse your little daughter might end up on internet while somebody……or your wife.
If they (autorities) can strip search you , they can get away with about anything. It’s the ultimate submittion to authorities, to be a good slave.
while people like you might get scared about soem terrorist, you are willing to give up any privacy or individual rights for it, like a real slave and not even understanding what’s going on.
Tuesday 16 November 2010, 8:22
Great idea, until the scan hits the fan! The first group to refuse a scan will be muslims (men and women alike). Muslim men will refuse to have a woman other than their wives, touch them. Muslim Women will refuse on religious grounds to have their bodies “exposed” on a scanning screen. Why do you think they wear “Burka’s”. It is a “religious” rule. Try making muslims adhere to this, and watch the fur fly. And the government will give in!! Except that is, for everyone else but members of Islam, the very people who’ve threatened our security on 9-11, and continued to do so until this very day. “political correctness” will scuttle “security” everytime.
Tuesday 16 November 2010, 8:28
Here’s the solution to air security. All men and women over 50 must wear “depends” to the airport. Under 50 years of age, “bikini’s and/or jock straps. Travel light!