TSA Pros And Cons

The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA for short, has increased the amount of security in airports within the past 15 years. The increase of security is a response to the massive 9/11 plane bombing, as well as several more attempts, such as the "Christmas bomber" to cause havoc in the airport. One of main ways the TSA believed to combat these terrorist threats was to implement new measures in airports, such as the use of full-body scanners which have now been implemented internationally as well. These machines basically take an X-ray of passengers to peer under their clothing to detect any potential weapons or bombs on the body. This theoretically would stop any suicide bomber or hijacker from causing harm on the airplane. In addition

However, although these measures have good intentions they tend to invade people's privacy rather than protect them from harm. That's why although full-body scanners and new TSA measures help find hidden weapons and are less intrusive than pat downs, the cons of these new measures surely outweigh the pros because other alternatives can be found to combat security issues in the airport in a more effective manner while protecting passenger's privacy as well. By analyzing, the effectiveness of TSA's new measures, whether or not the new measures protect adult and children's rights, the effectiveness of alternative measures, and the cost of these new security measures; it is apparent that the cons of TSA's new security measures clearly outweigh the

There are several struggles that passengers face at the airport, so we might as well protect people's privacy (Checkpoint Challenge). No matter what system we use terrorists will find a way around the system, therefore it is best to find an alternative that doesn't sacrifice privacy. For example, "Look at prison systems, where searches are far more invasive - they still can't stop contraband from being smuggled into the system" (Cendrowicz). If more intensive pat downs and scans cannot stop bad things from happening why do, we need to sacrifice privacy and use more intensive scanners in the airports? Instead, what needs to happen is airports need to use the "puffer" or the "guardian" as systems for maintaining security at the airport. The "puffer" is a "machine first developed by General Electric, that can detect chemical particles a person may have on their body and analyze whether or not they are harmful. The machine works by blowing puffs of chemically-sensitive air around the individual" (Guarino). The puffer is a great way to maintain security in the airport while protecting individual's privacy because there are no cameras involved at all in the system. Many passengers travelling fear that cameras will store their images and feel that violates their privacy. Therefore, if cameras are removed from the whole dynamic this would protect passenger's privacy.