Op-Ed: Stop Virtual Strip Search

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:38 am

By Barry Steinhardt Wed Dec 13, 7:12 AM ET

Body scanners are a virtual strip-search that Americans should not be subjected to. They offer very little security value in return for the cost to our dignity and privacy.

Let's be clear: The body scanners - known as "backscatter" - are X-ray devices that expose us to radiation. And the government has not carefully studied what long-term effects that radiation will have on frequent fliers, or even casual ones.

But of more immediate concern, they create incredibly graphic images of our naked bodies. Those images will reveal not only our private body parts, but also intimate medical details such as colostomy bags or the effects of a mastectomy.

The government is now touting its ability to hide these revealing images. The problem is that masking the revealing images is likely to degrade the very pictures of weapons and explosives that the X-rays are supposed to find. In other words, to have any potential security value, they are going to need to be graphic. How long will it be before the TSA succumbs to the pressure to go back to exposing the full image?

And the inconvenient truth is that the government has a very poor track record of keeping Americans' personal information private. It is sadly predictable that the body image of a famous person, or even ordinary people, will be sold for profit or perverse amusement. Even a few such incidents will make us all feel more exposed and could have a devastating effect on our very fragile airline industry.

I have no doubt we would be marginally safer if we were all forced to fly naked. But that's just not something that Americans would accept - and neither should they accept this machine.

There are less intrusive technologies for detecting explosives. One example is explosive detection portals, which blow air on passengers and look for molecules of explosives. That kind of a technology is where the government should be focusing its resources and public relations efforts.

We don't need to fly naked to be safe.

Barry Steinhardt is director of the American Civil Liberties Union's technology and liberty project.

Tater Tazz · Post by **Tater Tazz** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:38 am

i agree with you. i do not believe they should take xrays like that. i know it is for sucurity reasons but it does invade us.

runnerpunk · Post by **runnerpunk** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:50 pm

I didnt know thats what those things actually did. I can see it now--a few years down the road the media will be posting images of some holllywood chick showing the plastic surgery job she got done and the gov. putting images of our bodies along with the rest of the info they have on us.Yeah I know it sounds sick--but it could happen.I definately agree with you--these things are a problem

laneybug · Post by **laneybug** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:11 pm

If someone wants to see me naked, have at it. It's just a body. And since the majority of this country watches porn, goes to strip clubs, silly wet tee shirt contests at bars etc., what's the big deal? We don't seem to mind when it's others being shown naked, but us... god no, that'd be terrible.

Yes, I'm being a smartass, but still.

The only thing that would bother me about it was the impact of radiation. Other than that.... whatever.

cars · Post by **cars** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:38 am

Well we have the "terrorists" to thank for this invasion of privacy. It is a small price to pay considering the consequences if it were not done at all! :wah:

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:06 am

I would rather be "exposed" than dead..

but that's just me..

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:03 am

I think they're overstepping their boundaries under the guise of "protecting" us. You can get away with all kinds of invasive BS if you just blame it on terrorism. I think that's becoming a real lame excuse for violating human beings.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:28 am

Everyone has been seen naked by hundreds if not thousands of people in their life. Doctors, nurses, gym participants, not too mention family, friends and signifigant others. We all have pretty much the same equipment so who cares. Now who of you want to see me naked.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:48 am

YZGI;608665 wrote: Everyone has been seen naked by hundreds if not thousands of people in their life. Doctors, nurses, gym participants, not too mention family, friends and signifigant others. We all have pretty much the same equipment so who cares. Now who of you want to see me naked.

That's true. However it's your choice if you are seen naked by any of those people. It's not about having the same equipment or about a sense of modesty. It's about rebelling against yet another governmental encroachment being forced upon us. And the fact that we don't have to get on the plane for example, if we dont want to be searched this way is not an acceptable alternative. The more we shrug and say "so what" the more we p.iss away our personal right to privacy and a myriad other things. (Take my rights! I'm not using them!) That's just the way I'm seeing it. I don't see the government as a bed partner. I see it as an enemy and this kind of stuff is one of the reasons why.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:55 am

RedGlitter;608754 wrote: That's true. However it's your choice if you are seen naked by any of those people. It's not about having the same equipment or about a sense of modesty. It's about rebelling against yet another governmental encroachment being forced upon us. And the fact that we don't have to get on the plane for example, if we dont want to be searched this way is not an acceptable alternative. The more we shrug and say "so what" the more we p.iss away our personal right to privacy and a myriad other things. (Take my rights! I'm not using them!) That's just the way I'm seeing it. I don't see the government as a bed partner. I see it as an enemy and this kind of stuff is one of the reasons why.

I see your point although I am not sure if I agree. The interesting part of your post is highlighted. When did everyone start seeing their Governments as enemies and why. Is there a country where their citizens still consider their Gov. as an ally or do we all think our Gov.'s are corrupt and out to get us.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:26 am

YZGI;608763 wrote: I see your point although I am not sure if I agree. The interesting part of your post is highlighted. When did everyone start seeing their Governments as enemies and why. Is there a country where their citizens still consider their Gov. as an ally or do we all think our Gov.'s are corrupt and out to get us.

Good question, YZGI. Could spin off into a whole nother thread though! I used to have this discussion with my mom and dad. They came from a time (50s-early 60s) when people believed in the president and never thought the government would lie to them or harm them. That idea blows me away, that there was ever a time when people put that kind of trust into government.

Mom and Dad said "we just didn't question..." I don't know where I got it from but I've always questioned authority. That another human (or mass collection of humans; ie: govt) should somehow be in control of me and my life when they were no different and no better than I, never set well with me. This is the same govt that conducted/ probably still conducts drug experiments on unwitting people, steals money we work for, calling it "taxes owed," even though income tax was supposed to be a temporary thing, withholds information that could cure disease, prohibits people from obtaining substances that have been known to reverse cancer (I'm thinking of laetrile), deals in often shady situations with other countries, etc, etc. I have always seen government as one huge institute of corruption, evil and greed.

Why do you think I should not see it that way, YZ?

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:44 am

RedGlitter;608819 wrote: Good question, YZGI. Could spin off into a whole nother thread though! I used to have this discussion with my mom and dad. They came from a time (50s-early 60s) when people believed in the president and never thought the government would lie to them or harm them. That idea blows me away, that there was ever a time when people put that kind of trust into government.

Mom and Dad said "we just didn't question..." I don't know where I got it from but I've always questioned authority. That another human (or mass collection of humans; ie: govt) should somehow be in control of me and my life when they were no different and no better than I, never set well with me. This is the same govt that conducted/ probably still conducts drug experiments on unwitting people, steals money we work for, calling it "taxes owed," even though income tax was supposed to be a temporary thing, withholds information that could cure disease, prohibits people from obtaining substances that have been known to reverse cancer (I'm thinking of laetrile), deals in often shady situations with other countries, etc, etc. I have always seen government as one huge institute of corruption, evil and greed.

Why do you think I should not see it that way, YZ?

I actually thought about starting a thread on this but then I was afraid I would be getting audited by next week if I did.:wah:

Start one up Red it would be an interesting topic.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:49 am

Good deal. On my way right now....

koan · Post by **koan** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:23 am

Perhaps everyone should just be required to fly naked.

Then we'd eliminate the radiation problem.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:24 am

koan;608955 wrote: Perhaps everyone should just be required to fly naked.

Then we'd eliminate the radiation problem.
It may create a problem with everyone staying in their seats though.

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:55 am

YZGI;608960 wrote: It may create a problem with everyone staying in their seats though.:wah: :wah: :sneaky:

laneybug · Post by **laneybug** » Tue May 08, 2007 12:30 pm

I was just thinking..... as soon as our culture stops making the naked body a taboo thing and as soon as people would stop rather being dead than caught naked, I think it'd be just fine.

I would understand, though, if I was someone with a colostomy or something like that as RG said in her first post. Then it becomes more of a discretion issue.

But I'd rather be seen naked by an x-ray than prop my legs open for the gyno any day of the week!! Now that's invasive. Unless it's a man :sneaky: And you're still exposing yourself for your own protection.. health wise anyway.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue May 08, 2007 12:45 pm

No. It's not about being taboo. It's not about the body as a sexual object whatsoever.

All a person owns in this sorry world is their body, and their mind and they should be able to reign supreme over their control, their use and abuse. I'm coming from the angle of personal boundaries. It insults my sensibilities in the same way it does when people say "Oh it's just a social security number. I'm not paranoid. I have no secrets."

Everyone has a secret.

And everyone should have the right to do so.

Be it a colostomy bag or your crappy credit history, it doesn't matter.

Stop the nosy BS. Stop allowing it to happen. Stop shining this stuff on as if it doesn't matter or doesn't affect you. Maybe this thing won't but if you let them keep going, the next thing just might.