This essay will discuss the use of full body scanners in airports and their effectiveness. There are many of those who feel as though these scanners are an invasion of privacy and should not be allowed for usage. There have been several acts of terrorism against the United States of America and its people. One man snuck plastic explosives on a plane sewn in his underwear and went undetected by security.
If successful, this attempt would have been catastrophic. It is events such as these which has led to the use of these machines. It will make it almost impossible to sneak anything on a plane whether legal or illegal. The need for public safety is greater than the need for privacy. Acts of attempted terrorism will continue however these scanners will be a huge asset in the detection and determent of would be attackers. We will discuss several causes and effects in the following essay.
Former Connecticut governor Jodi Rell once said, “At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security”. Due the most recent unfortunate terrorist attacks, and other violent threats to public safety, airports have increased security measures in the United States by implementing the use of full body scanners. In 2009, one particular incident that included undetectable explosives caused the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to enforce the use of full body scanners (Mehta & Smith-Bindman, 2011). Airport full body scanners are vital in providing more effective public safety because of the machine’s ability to detect all potential weapons, illegal substances, and contraband. They also provide rapid searches for each and every one.
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First, full body scanners allow for more effective public safety because of the machine’s capability of detecting all potential weapons. Due to past attempts of terror, these scanners were implemented to detect all potential weapons made of any material. In one instance, a “would-be terrorist” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, hid plastic explosives sewn into his underwear on a flight to America and he went undetected (Shultz, 2010). This event could have ended catastrophically and could have been prevented with better security measures.
These materials would also have been undetectable by a metal detector. The body scanner machine’s capabilities have avoided other situations such as: a shoe bomb incident 2001 and print cartridge shell casing of nonmetallic explosives (Jansen, 2016). Through the use of body scanners any material that could potentially be a weapon would be detected. As a result of this near-incident, full body scanners began to be placed in airports and became enforced (Mehta & Smith-Bindman, 2011). This security measure would result in less chances of an attacker being successful and led to better overall security for all travelers.
Second, full body scanners aide in providing a safe environment for travelers because of the machine’s ability to detect illegal substances and contraband. Because full body scanners have effectively assisted in drug discoveries, some prisons have turned to this technology as a way to control the influx of illegal drugs and contraband being brought into the prisons (Axelrod, 2016). The effectiveness of these machines has made them desirable in other settings as well. The full body scanner technology, however, consists of a millimeter wave technology strong enough to caption any suspicious substance under clothing (Jansen, 2016).
This rapid detection that is free of touch allows for instant results and avoidance of dangers. In some instances when faced with a scanner inmate have confessed to the possession of an illegal substance (Axelrod, 2016). Consequently, full body scanners are being adopted to amplify security measures in other organizations. Resulting in less drug trafficking in America and airports. If proven successful, these scanners could be implemented in all of our security measures.
Last, the full body scanners ability to rapidly scan travelers allows for everyone to be thoroughly checked. Another factor of this scanner is that it eliminates racial profiling and increases the effectiveness of the TSA to do its job rapidly. Metal detectors have been proven ineffective and most people are uncomfortable when being faced with a pat down. Full body scanners have significantly improved the speed of a security check as pat downs are 150 seconds long to complete once there has been a TSA agent of the same sex located (Jansen, 2016).
Therefore, there is an average of 150 seconds for a pat down per person not including the lengthy time it takes to locate a TSA that has to be of the same sex to perform the search. If this is for every person the wait times would be astronomical. The quickness of the scan allows for less wait time and more searches to occur. According to the Congressional Research Service, because of the effectiveness of screening (scanners) threats are more detectable and false alarms are minimal (Elias, 2012). The scanners are the newest technology there is and by the implementation of this technology travelers have a greater sense of security. There is no way to prevent tragedies completely but by stepping into the right direction with the full body scanner increased safety is possible.
Finally, full body scanners are effective and efficient security tool to provide travelers with the highest form of security. Although controversial to some, these machines are just another tool to detect and defer potential attackers from doing harm. It is the public’s duty to understand that those elected into office and those in charge of the people’s safety are fulfilling their duties which may require a little less privacy for effectiveness. The addition of these body scanning machines is the best way to provide the highest level of security. Therefore, safety and security warrant the compliance, understanding, and appreciation of the public.
References
- Axelrod, J. (2016). Ohio County Jail Employs Body Scanners to Catch Inmates with Contraband. American City & County Exclusive Insight. Retrieved from, http://uiwtx.idm.oclc..org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=114000589&site=ehost-live
- Elias, B. (2012). Airport Body Scanner: The Role of Advanced Imaging Technology in Airline Passenger Screening. Congressional Research Service. FAS.org. Retrieved from, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/r42750.pdf
- Jansen, B. (2016). TSA Defends Full-Body Scanners at Airport Checkpoints. USA Today. Retrieved from, https:// www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/03/02/tsa-defends-full-body-scanners-airport-checkpoints/81203030/
- Mehta, P. & Smith-Bindman, R. (2011). Airport Full Body Screening: What is the Risk? PMC US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. NCBI. Retrieved from, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3936792/
- Shultz, C. (2010). New Airport Policy: Grin and Bare It. American Now: Short Readings from Recent Periodicals. 9th edition. 232-234.
