Full Body Scan-Research Paper

Another measure TSA took was to add body scanners to security. These scanners can see what a person is carrying underneath their clothes. There have been a few different designs to this machine due to some lawsuits in the past brought up because the TSA agents were making fun of a man’s gentile size or certain passengers would feel embarrassed because someone can see their bodies. Now what the TSA agent sees is an outline of the passenger’s body and whatever is on the body. The body scanner does not show a naked person anymore.

As a response to the 9/11 attacks, one would expect that the TSA would improve airport security. In reality, it's just security theater. Originally, the use of metal detectors and luggage x-rays in airport security checkpoints was enough. However, on December 25, 2009, an inbound international

Airport security in the post 9/11 era is designed to create the illusion of safety, without actually protecting us from terrorism. It is important to recognize, that the TSA is incredibly ineffective, at preventing prohibited items from getting past its gates. In a recent test at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, undercover federal agents successful snuck in 95 percent of explosive materials, fake weapons and drugs. While this failure rate is certainly alarmingly high it is by no way unique. In a similar, but slightly broader Homeland Security investigation, the TSA failed 67 out of 70 tests conducted by the department’s Red Team across a variety of cities. Furthermore, the layout of security at airports is incredible ineffective. According to renowned security expert, Rafi Sela, “security should happen in rings, so different teams can check each other’s work.” However, in American Airports the only place that security happens is at one checkpoint.

Airport racial profiling, Osama Bin Laden, Middle East Asian, Muslims, 9/11, metal detectors, racial profiling and hijacking” Do these words and phrases sound familiar? It is likely most of us have been at least tried once in our lifetime going through the security checking process at the airport. Do people find this inconvenient or it is beneficial to everyone’s safety? However, this security checking process is not too convenient for particular targeted group, which are the Muslims. In this paper, the main focus is to discuss about terrorism and the related anti-terrorism measures, such as racial profiling; and how do these policy affect the targeted group. After the terrific 9/11 attacks, every country has strengthened their own

The current screening method is the body scanner which has been reported on multiple times by the news as it is consider invasive in nature. The screener is able to see the passenger’s nude image, but software updates have eliminated this providing only detection of metallic and nonmetallic threats. The prior method of a metal detector which did not alarm staff if nonmetallic threats existed allowed C-4 explosive (a clay type of explosive) to board the plan. The body scanners are quicker than the former methods of a “pat down”, which every passenger had to endure and were less invasive. This system will be used by the TSA until a better method is discovered, which will provide faster screening, more privacy to passengers and better detection of threats. The cost of this has rising over the years but it was the initial setup of the TSA in 2002 which cost the most since there was not an agency within this realm that completed these duties.

It is believed that the CIA was researching two men they found to be suspicious, and watched them purchase weapons and similar clothing before the attack on 9/11 occurred, but failed to relay this information to the FBI and other unsuspecting personnel. These men boarded the plane, despite possessing weapons, and the result was tragic. Today, it is difficult to pass through airport security without passing through multiple check points and being questioned for various items that could be potentially harmful. In personal experience and watching the news, I have seen individuals with a razor for shaving in suitcases when boarding a plane at the airport, or lighters for smoking, and they are almost immediately questioned about it. Airport security and screening has greatly improved since the attack on 9/11. In 2006, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that it confiscated over 13 million prohibited items at airport passenger security checkpoints; 1.6 million were knives and in one week during April 2011, 18 firearms were confiscated (70). Airport security has drastically increased, and it has helped the United States to maintain secure flights for passengers in the years since

Airports have recently utilized Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), which has since raised concerns for privacy and whether or not it breaches the Fourth Amendment. AIT or full body scanners, use electromagnetic wavelengths to see beneath your clothes, producing an image of your naked body for the TSA (Taylor, 2013, p.513). From there, they can see anything you may be carrying (Taylor, 2013, p.513). Jeffrey Rosen states, “The designers of the body scanners at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory offered US Officials a choice between these naked machines or blob machines” (Rosen, 2010, p.9). The blob machines are less invasive, portraying your body as a “non-humiliating blob” in the words of Rosen. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security eventually deployed the naked body scanners without public opinion (Rosen, 2010, p.9). Although the intention of these machines seems to be good when it concerns the safety of travelers, these invasive procedures have led to incidents of misuse and can be humiliating for many. An incident in a Nigerian Airport occurred where airport officers used full-body scans as a form of pornography (Taylor, 2013, p.514). In another, US Marshalls in Florida illegally saved 35,000 images of full-body scans on one scanner (Taylor, 2013, p.514 ). To make matters worse, these images were plastered on the internet (Taylor, 2013,

A plane can no longer be boarded without everybody at least going through a body scan, a suitcase check, and the metal detector. In the article, an author explains that “...touchstones like putting laptops into plastic bins, a pat down, and a blaring reminder not to carry packages for strangers drive home the fact that the survival is at stake in the post-September 11th world.” Lives could be at risk so it is necessary to go through these procedures to make sure everybody on the plane will be safe. These invasive procedures have been accepted over the years. People have also accepted the fact that there are more than enough police officers and technology at public events. One of the authors state that “... physical security screeners see what’s in your bag and your pockets; aerial and digital surveillance sees

Following the attacks of 9/11 the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented ample amounts of programs that bolster the overall transportation security environment. For example, the employment of Air Marshals, surface/aviation transportation security inspectors, Behavioral Detection Officers, Transportation Security Officers, local law enforcement, security personnel, and even canine teams have been introduced to enhance detection capabilities (Forest & Howard, 2013). More importantly, improving screening protocols for checked luggage, carryon items, and cargo screenings were all vital developments. In order to properly screen all previously mentioned items, increased funding for enhancing security technology systems was a priority (Forest & Howard, 2013). For example, TSA uses various x-ray devices to provide advanced imaging technology to screen for metallic and non-metallic threats, including weapons and explosives, which may be concealed under clothing (Forest & Howard, 2013). All of which, allow mass transits infrastructure such as airports to mitigate potential

At many airports around the country, TSA is now using full body scanner machines and also much more invasive

These criteria vary from flight check for weapons (whatever is considered to be a threat to life) to the passport for determining identification correctly; they are procedures that were developed with the aim of keeping the situation of an imminent threat and sealed to prevent national panic. The baggage policy has seen rapid change such as restrictions limiting any chance of temporary bombs or weapons for display on a plane, derailing any products endanger into the flight. Although this infringement of privacy, the privacy of personal belongings only to the one who is not greater than the chance of a threat if someone has actually taken place. This added to the account that we should not be too dependent on technology and that the probability that the machine is designed to detect any hazardous materials can make mistakes and that carelessness and accessories depending on the technology could lead to serious consequences, all due to the lack of

The officials at the airports are required to conduct random searches to ensure the safety of the citizens and themselves; however, these searches are not always random. William Raspberry goes over how officials should stay away from exploiting their powers and using more practical precautions like reviewing the passengers lists and enhancing the doors on the planes.

Furthermore, these full body scanning devices may not even be effective. A team of researchers at UC San Diego, University

Thirty years ago, a man named Martin Annis invented a fully-body X-ray scanner (Nickisch). After 9/11 and a few terrorist’s attacks, airports finally became interested in this scanner. The person behind the push for heightened security is Michael Chertoff, the head of the Department Homeland Security (Nickisch). Today he is the cofounder of the Chertoff group, which is a risk management and security consulting company and is one of the biggest manufactures of body imaging screening machines (Nickisch). Michael Chertoff represents some of the manufactures that make this technology. So perhaps his interests in body scanners and security is not just about protecting the American people. He seems to be abusing his relationship with the public by pretending to be a public servant and how these scanners are going to make us safer. He stands to benefit because he is getting paid by the manufacturing companies to go all over the television network saying these scanners are the solution to security.

increased its efforts in protecting its airports. At that time, “the security scanners already in place in most airports included baggage x-rays, metal detectors, and chemical residue detectors, which help security staff search out illegal items that a passenger might have” (DiLascio). These security scanners unfortunately failed in their job. Since then, the Transportation Security Administration has been keeping American airports safe using the latest technology. Airports have now been fitted with high-tech body scanners rather than the archaic metal detectors that only detect metal objects. During the past few years, individuals have attacked the