The new-year started with new security frenzy across US. President
Obama in his address stated that he understood the lack of security caused by lag of decision by the intelligence agency. The bombing plot from schiphol airport to US, send terror waves across the globe. New security strategies are being charted out. New policies are now introduced. Debate about security, privacy and human rights have entered drawing rooms and board rooms.
In midst of all this drama, governments of Norway, Britain, Nigeria and then Canada announced that they will install full body scanners on airports. This news was received with curiosity and anger. Travelers’ across the globe specially traveling to US, now have to pass through body scanners as a measure for high security.
What are body scanners?
Do they really fringe personal privacy? Are they as draconian as depicted by the media? Are they a health hazard? Does it mean that a person passing through it will be actually exposing himself naked in front of the officer? Will it really insure higher security making air travel a secure and fulfilling experience? All these questions disturb any ordinary traveler.
Body scanners are a relative new technology. They are based on X-ray using radio and low frequency x-ray technology. A three-dimensional body outline can be seen on a monitor. It can detect any other thing hidden behind the clothes. Let it be drugs, knife or in worse case a bomb. But can the officer see the private areas of the passenger? Can they save the image for a future file? If they can will they save it for future use?
According to transport Canada each scanner cost around $250,000 each. Minister Baird also stated that the scanners would be installed by the end of March. Every passenger will not be asked to go through the scanners. Only those that look ‘suspicious’ will be asked to pass through them. Moreover this will not affect the passenger’s under the age of 18.
But is this a good idea? Body scanners are a choice even for the suspicious person. They are given the choice of either allowing for a body search or going through the body scanners. We have already seen the results of body searches, and imagine if the ‘suspicious’ person chose a body search over these scanners? Is it even a good idea to implement them with such ‘loose’ policies? And while their effectiveness is a huge topic of discussion to begin with, we are seeing uproars all across the country against their installment. The privacy groups across Canada are raising the question of privacy infringement.
According to the charter of Freedom, Canadians take pride in our policies against racial discrimination. This policy indirectly constitutes a behavior, which is synonymous to racial profiling.
Moreover, the government right now is portraying it as an option. In later stages they might decide to make it mandatory. Are we ready for such a policy?
The more disturbing announcement is the policy related to passenger behavior observance. The staff at airports will be trained to identify passengers based on their behavior. This again constitutes a policy based on fears and profiling.
Moreover, it is disturbing that most of the security measures are taken in lieu with US. Does this mean that government is not concerned with the security of other persons traveling to different destinations?
Being body searched on airports itself is an insulting phenomenon.
Given the security situation it can be justified. But does installing scanners and doing behavioral study will make airports safe?
Will it make air travel a fulfilling or insulting experience?
Should we allow state to form policies that interfere with the personal space?
Yes all of these questions are valid that concern our present lives and will impact our futures. Only future will answer it.
Author: Staff Writer
