Airport Full-Body Scanners: An Invasion of Privacy?

[Dasquian Belargic]

The use of airport body scanners in the UK may be unlawful, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.

Scanners already in place at Heathrow and Manchester Airports may be breaking discrimination law as well as breaching passengers' rights to privacy, it said. It has now written a letter to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

The government said security concerns meant scanners had been needed immediately, but it was carrying out an equalities impact assessment.

The scanners are being introduced in response to the alleged attempt to blow up an American plane on 25 December.

It said one of its chief concerns was over how people would be selected for the scans.

Its chairman, Trevor Phillips, said: "The right to life is the ultimate human right and we support the government's review of security policies.

"State action like border checks, stop-and-search and full body scanning are undertaken for good reasons.

"But, without proper care, such policies can end up being applied in ways which do discriminate against vulnerable groups or harm good community relations."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8516574.stm

What are you opinions on these scanners? A necessary precaution, or a step too far?

[Droo]

I personally wouldn't be arsed who saw me in the nack when it comes to this, and no, it's not out of some perverse sense of exhibitionism I say this, it just wouldn't bother me. Besides, if you've seen the quality of these images you'd have to agree that none of the airport security staff are going to be getting their jollies out of them. So in that regard, for me it's not an issue.

The discrimination thing, on the other hand, is, but once again it's a human fault and nothing to do with the full-body scanners themselves. I shall wait with not-so-baited breath for the cries of Big Brother but whatever, given my hang-ups about flying as it is, I'm fine with another, more thorough method of terrorism intervention.

[Darth Turbogeek]

I'm fine with another, more thorough method of terrorism intervention.


AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

If you really think it'll stop one terrorism attempt or hell even regular drug running and smuggling, you are very sadly mistaken. All this will do is making flying more of a PITA.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

If they really REALLY want to stop terrorist attacks or smuggling then we'd need strip searches.

And.... thank you, but no.

[Xavier Synik]

If they really REALLY want to stop terrorist attacks or smuggling then we'd need strip searches.

And.... thank you, but no.

Even that would only work for a while.

It's a new Cold War.

"We" keep coming up with better ways to try and stop terrorists from getting bombs on planes, they keep coming up with better ways to put bombs on planes.

As for the scanners. I don't have an issue with them. I can understand why some people do have an issue with them though.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

If I drew a kitty face on my tummy with Icy-Hot, would the scanner pick it up? Cause if so, I'm totally doing this for BN '11 when we go out to Europe (pleasepleaseplease).


Otherwise, I don't really have any opinions on this. I'm comfortable with my body for the most part, so it doesn't bother me.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Even that would only work for a while.

It's a new Cold War.

"We" keep coming up with better ways to try and stop terrorists from getting bombs on planes, they keep coming up with better ways to put bombs on planes.


And how many flights have there been verses how many planes bombed? The risk is so low I really cant give a shit. It is literally much more risky for me to drive to work and yet I will not think about it. In fact I would worry about inadequate maintenace over any bomb.



The entire OMG TERRIST!!! is a vastly overblown fear, the shoe "bomber" and that Nigerian guy last year were utter amatuers trying to use devices that would NEVER have worked. Real terrorists worked out a long time ago that car and truck bombs have a much better value and frankly the mere fact the west is jumping at shadows shows the terrorists won. The Brits showed how it should be done they were like fuck you the next day and went on exactly the same. Fear lost.

And BTW, the nigerian would have been caught without scanners if the airport origin had been awake and actually handled it's security half comtently

Oh wait, am I saying the security at airports could be better if the fat shithead more interested in his coffee was actually paying attention? Oh that's right, scanners will mean exactly zero cause oh look squirrel err okay that guy we dont worry.

[Lykaios]

I'm with Mark on this, scanners and x-rays and whatever else comes our way are mere tools, tools that are only as good as the people who are in charge of them. Shit, this (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/nyregion/10newark.html) guy literally walked past security cause the guards do their jobs half-arsed.

[Darth Turbogeek]

I'm with Mark on this, scanners and x-rays and whatever else comes our way are mere tools, tools that are only as good as the people who are in charge of them. Shit, this (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/nyregion/10newark.html) guy literally walked past security cause the guards do their jobs half-arsed.


And look at that retarded blowhard Senator blaming it all on the innocent traveller. WHAT ABOUT THE BLOODY GUARD MORON????

Sheesh, idiot politicans are another part of the problem as well as idiotic media beating every bloody single thing up into OMG OMG OMG.

[Dasquian Belargic]

The Brits showed how it should be done they were like fuck you the next day and went on exactly the same. Fear lost.

Keep Calm & Carry On, old chap.

[Yog]

I think body scanning was just a question of time anyway. It makes carrying explosive materials onto planes much harder.

That being said, I'm also tired of the PITA security, considering pretty much ALL of these attempts are done by Muslim fanatics. When was the last time you saw a Norwegian or a Canadian trying to blow up a plane? Hell, when was the last time you saw someone with Caucasian origin try that. Yet, it is us western people who have to suffer having our luggage scrutinized, having to take off our shoes, scanned, questioned, standing in a line waiting forever etc. Maybe it is time to start focusing on better intelligence work, which would have easily stopped that Nigerian attempt if the system was working.

Not to mention, one day these jihadists lunatics are going to figure out a way to operate an explosive device into someone's belly through surgery, or insert a bomb into the rectum, and then we're back to square one..

[Morgan Evanar]

Until the US runs it's security properly I'll add this to the long list of alarmist bullshit we have to put up with now.

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8520467.stm


A mini armoured car, designed for use in confined spaces such as airports and hotels targeted in terror attacks, has gone on display at an Indian arms fair.

The battery operated, two million rupee ($45,000) Anti-Terrorist Assault Cart (Atac) is said to resemble a bullet-proof golf buggy with firing ports.