How do you feel about full body scans when flying?

[futurebeachbum]

New scanners break child porn laws in UK?

This story from the Guardian has an angle I would have never considered:

The rapid introduction of full body scanners at British airports threatens to breach child protection laws which ban the creation of indecent images of children, the Guardian has learned.

Privacy campaigners claim the images created by the machines are so graphic they amount to "virtual strip-searching" and have called for safeguards to protect the privacy of passengers involved.

Ministers now face having to exempt under 18s from the scans or face the delays of introducing new legislation to ensure airport security staff do not commit offences under child pornography laws.​

 

[Andy A]

This story from the Guardian has an angle I would have never considered:

The rapid introduction of full body scanners at British airports threatens to breach child protection laws which ban the creation of indecent images of children, the Guardian has learned.
​

Privacy campaigners claim the images created by the machines are so graphic they amount to "virtual strip-searching" and have called for safeguards to protect the privacy of passengers involved.

Ministers now face having to exempt under 18s from the scans or face the delays of introducing new legislation to ensure airport security staff do not commit offences under child pornography laws.
​

This is about as stupid a take on the security of those people getting on an airplane as I've ever seen. Security is for YOU not the screeners.
They could care less what you look like and they are definitely not the ones flying.
Is it really going to take a plane being blown up in flight for us to realize that it is us, the passenger, that is being protected as best as is possible?
It is very difficult, at best, to protect our flying public. It is also very possible that someone will slip through and destroy a flight. We should still make every effort conceivable to prevent this from happening and assure it is no easy matter for someone to accomplish the feat.

 

[Zebraspots]

Do the machines automatically create an image that is saved and can be distributed? I thought it was temporary like the xray images of your bags.

If they save all the photos I definitely don't want it - the disaster potential is too huge.

 

[Just Curious]

This story from the Guardian has an angle I would have never considered:

The rapid introduction of full body scanners at British airports threatens to breach child protection laws which ban the creation of indecent images of children, the Guardian has learned.
​

Privacy campaigners claim the images created by the machines are so graphic they amount to "virtual strip-searching" and have called for safeguards to protect the privacy of passengers involved.

Ministers now face having to exempt under 18s from the scans or face the delays of introducing new legislation to ensure airport security staff do not commit offences under child pornography laws.
​

Good thing there aren't any terrorists out there that are under the age of 18...right?

 

[Chickpea]

Tell you what I wish - that the US would do what England does - you can ONLY bring ONE bag on board - not a handbag and a carry on, or a small suitcase and computer case - one bag and that is it.

I certainly understand not wanting to check luggage in with all the fees being imposed now, but people are going overboard now with their carry-ons - if you happen to get on the plane a little late, good luck finding some space in the overhead bin....

Ok - off my soap box!

 

[30ashopper]

Tell you what I wish - that the US would do what England does - you can ONLY bring ONE bag on board - not a handbag and a carry on, or a small suitcase and computer case - one bag and that is it.

I certainly understand not wanting to check luggage in with all the fees being imposed now, but people are going overboard now with their carry-ons - if you happen to get on the plane a little late, good luck finding some space in the overhead bin....

Ok - off my soap box!

I can't remember the last time I flew where my one small carry on didn't need to be checked because everyone who loaded before me loaded up all the bins all the way to the doors. Makes me mad as hell, and just a little scared when you consider all that extra extra weight!

 

[Andy A]

I can't remember the last time I flew where my one small carry on didn't need to be checked because everyone who loaded before me loaded up all the bins all the way to the doors. Makes me mad as hell, and just a little scared when you consider all that extra extra weight!

The weight question is a good one. I've always wondered how the airlines handle weight and balance but evidently its not considered a problem.

 

[Zebraspots]

The airlines created the problem - if I could check my luggage without paying for it AND count on getting it at my final destination I would not have 2 carry-on bags. One is luggage, one is my purse and all the stuff I can't put in my checked luggage because it will get stolen and things for comfort on the plane.

 

[scooterbug44]

I am constantly amazed at the amount of crap some people drag onto the plane ................. then pitch a fit when it doesn't fit in the overhead or the gate agent tries to enforce the rules!

They do seem to be cracking down on it lately - bad news for me and my slightly larger carryon (the only thing that ever goes in the overhead, fully complied with regs when I bought it, and that I love to gate check).

Canoehead is just refusing to fly unless completely necessary - first they took away her shampoo (her hair is at least 12" longer than Punzy's), now they want her to pay to check it!

 

[Eileen West]

I'm with you BeachSio. If the security measure actually works and is effective in keeping us safe, and even save lives, then its a good thing. surely airport security practices are given very serious and ongoing consideration - I hope the best available, in all security aspects, is used.

But if security measures are used only for certain people. then I don't know if that is the best security method for many reasons.

stay safe BeachSio! Hi to the Missus.

And that's the central problem of profiling. Being politically correct is not what the agencies that protect us are about. They know that if we focus too much attention on one group, the enemy will adapt and send in a terrorist who doesn't fit the profile. It is in our best interest to look at every individual and not make a tragic mistake by assuming all terorists look alike.