Technology sure is an unfettered beast when we want it to be.
In the latest race to calm people’s qualms about travelling via airplane, a new security scanner is being considered for testing in the U.S. It’s much more effective than the X-ray machines currently in use, as it intelligently reconstructs the person’s body from the data. I can’t say much more because obviously details are not easy to come by.
You can see some sample images in this article.
Essentially proponents are saying that it will be used in lieu of a strip search, or for special cases. I say welcome to a slippery slope. We all know how that story ends.
Opponents are saying this is perverse, as the scanning of people only exposes the exterior of their bodies and not their interior, which strip searches would do. So it cannot replace strip searches. They are upset at the thought of officers at airports viewing images of naked children, or purposefully choosing the scanned people in order to obtain a free strip show.
The article finally mentions that officials are declining to say when or where these machines may be put into testing.
Yeah!
I just hope it can see through hair as well. “Excuse me sir, we’re going to have to shave your back so we can see if you’re concealing any weapons under your sweater.” How embarrassing.