Long lines, delays, luggage, metal detectors, people of every culture -- these are all features regularly found at airports around the world, and now a new technology that has the ability to detect objects beneath a passenger’s clothing could become another one of these commonly seen items. These innovative machines were designed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and are called advanced imaging technology or AIT machines. This new type of security method, although steps ahead of previous airport security procedures, has drawn criticism due to concerns with privacy. Eight years ago, the AIT machines that are currently causing opposition were just beginning to be tested by officials at Orlando International Airport (Rosen par. 1). After being tested, the machines began deployment to larger airports across the country in 2007 (“Advanced” par. 1). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides the main funding for the new technology. The funds from the ARRA are enough to manufactur nearly one thousand full-body scanners (“Advanced” par. 3; Walsh par. 10). Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary, explains that “each and every one of the security measures we implement serves an important goal: providing safe and efficient air travel for the millions of people who rely on our aviation system every day” (qtd. in Sorentrue par. 5). No matter where a plane is departing from or where it is scheduled to fly, the safety of passengers must be the TSA’s number one priority. As security threats become more advanced, so must the screening measures in order prevent them. The TSA should increase the production and use of advanced imaging technology machines in airports across the country.
Two types of scanning techn...
... middle of paper ...
...ude Breach." New Republic 241.20 (2010): 9. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
Schwartz, John. "Debate Over Full-Body Scans vs. Invasion of Privacy Flares Anew After Incident." New York Times 30 Dec. 2009: TOPICsearch. EBSCO. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Sorentrue, Jennifer. "Body scanners prompt 'opt-out' protest on peak air travel day." Palm Beach Post, (FL) 16 Nov. 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
Walsh, Paul. "MSP to begin high-tech body scanning soon: The airport installed its first full-body scanner and expects to use it on passengers within a few weeks. Critics charge that the devices violate privacy." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) 18 Aug. 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 27 Jan. 2011.
Watson, Stephen T. "Airport's first full-body scanner goes online." Buffalo News (NY) 17 Aug. 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 27 Jan. 2011.
“In 2001, airline security was minimal and was the responsibility of the airline. Passengers were asked a few questions by ticket agents before they passed through checkpoints with metal detectors that were calibrated to sound an alarm for anything larger than a small caliber handgun. If an alarm did sound, security at the checkpoint would use a hand wand to scan the passenger again to determine what had set off the alarm. Bags were simply passed through an x-ray machine.... ...
One of the first new pieces of technology the TSA introduced were better screeners. A new screener known as AIT or Advance imaging technology has been created to counteract items that may have been hidden from site or...
Since 9/11 there have been nine major security changes at airports. The most important changes are the liquid ban, which bans liquids more than 3.4 ounces from being on an airplane and the body-scan machines along with the enhanced pat downs. (Seaney 1)l/ The body scan machines are x-ray machines that scan the person for anything that could be used as a weapon. Enhanced pat downs are violating to some people as they do not like their private areas searched for weapons. But these pat downs are necessary to detect, find, and remove weapons that a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agent cannot see with their own eyes. The last important change worth mentioning is that all special items including laptops, tablets, E-readers, and all electronic items have to be checked for explosives and other threats. These changes as well as other minor regulations for passengers give the TSA an extra line of defense while screening air travelers.
Holloway, Carson. "Profiling and the Constitution." Public Discourse. N.p., n. d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. .
"Domestic Surveillance." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. .
Andrew Guthrie Ferguson thinks that people should be able to choose what areas they want to be secure from “physical and sense-enhancing invasion.” Another scholar, Joel Reidenbuerg, believes that current views of privacy do not fit well with the current technology, instead surveillance is dependent on “the nature of the acts being surveilled.” One more scholar, Chris Slobogin, believes that “the justification for a search should be roughly proportional to the intrusiveness of the search” (Hartzog, 2015). Point is, legal issues surrounding government surveillance is a complex topic without a perfect all-encompassing solution; each situation is different and should be treated
The importance of the TSA in security can be seen on a daily basis, even though this security comes at a price. Majority of the time the lines move smoothly and delays are caused by passengers who rush and fail to follow the rules. This week alone 37 Firearms were discovered, of the 37 firearms, 34 were loaded and 15 had rounds chambered. (Transportation Security Administration, 2014) These are dangers items that we don’t know the intent of the passengers. If you look back at the events of 9/11 lesser weapons (box cutters) were used by the hijackers to take over the plan, fear is a powerful tool. The TSA has used multiple detection systems which assist with detection of these items which include but not limited to body scanners, chemical scanners (which detection gun power ingredients), metal detectors ...
...st., Amend. IV). The only way a person can be searched is if the police, or the person searching, has a warrant. However, the warrants are very specific on what they can search, how they can search, and where they can search. In airports today, a copious amount of searches are taking place; even though they do not have premission to search. This violates the fourth amendment of the Constitution. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, in 2010, nearly four hundered complaints came in from travelers Stellin 1) Criminal defense lawyer, John Wesley Hall, told Susan Stellin of the New York Times that, “For Fourth Amendment purposes, you cannot touch somebody like this unless you are checking them into a jail or youve got resonable suspicion that they have got a gun... Here there is no reasonable suspicion... It is a pure act of getting on a plane.”(1)
"Latest News." CBS Minnesota. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. "Personal Tech."
The government’s recent surveillance does not pass this test. This is unwarranted bulk screening that goes against some of our country’s most basic values. What make this security measure different from others, such as airport security, are the consent and pervasiveness factors: Plane passengers choose to fly, and the rights suspended are limited (Although TSA officers may discover the contents of your bag, they do not truly learn about you). This new all-encompassing surveillance, however, is unavoidable.
.... "State Cops Can Track Residents' Cellphones." Daily Tribune Media. N.p., 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 06 Apr. 2014. .
Taylor, James Stacey. "In Praise of Big Brother: Why We Should Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Government Surveillance." Public Affairs Quarterly July 2005: 227-246.
Most people concerned about the privacy implications of government surveillance aren’t arguing for no[sic] surveillance and absolute privacy. They’d be fine giving up some privacy as long as appropriate controls, limitations, oversight and accountability mechanisms were in place. ”(“5 Myths about Privacy”). The fight for privacy rights is by no means a recent conflict.
Another technological advance that we entrust our safety to, that failed us was airport security system. Those men managed to get past out high tech security systems and onto those planes. Thousands of innocent people lost their lives because some men out smarted out fool proof system. The creators of airport security must have been unfamiliar with the saying, "where there’s a will, there’s a way". No one wants to admit to himself or herself, or anyone else for that matter, that sick people who thrive on pain and suffering, really do exist. Because airport security creators didn’t think about this fact, or they thought about it and chose to ignore it, innocent people lost their lives.
Stanley, Jay. "Accountability vs. Privacy: The ACLU's Recommendations on Police Body Cameras." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., 09 Oct. 2013. Web. 15 May 2014.