Is SmartCheck no more than a virtual strip search?
With the air becoming more of a terrorist heaven who can easily attack a civilian aircraft to terrorize the whole world, airport authorities are getting more serious about onboard passenger safety.
This has led to the development of controversial devices such as SmartCheck.
SmartCheck is an X-Ray vision device that can peek underneath passengers' clothing to search for bombs, guns or liquid explosives.
This new machine can scan your whole body from head-to-toe. Security officials working on the machine work in closed areas so that passenger privacy is not hindered.
Moreover according to the designers of this amazing machine, special 'privacy' software deliberately blurs the image creating an outline of the body. The only body parts those are clearly visible are collarbone, bellybutton or a weapon and blurs all revealing parts of the image.
Some people are not satisfied with the machine and also comment that this is nothing more than a 'virtual strip search'.
The vending machine sized machine which costs about $110,000 will only be used in case a passenger is referred to as suspicious and has to undergo detailed checks. That means that this machine will only work as a secondary check system.
Some analysts also state that the machine can also pose some serious health hazards to the passengers as it is dealing in X-Rays. But the developers of this machine have clearly stated that the machine is absolutely safe and the X-Ray emissions are controlled to a safe standard.
If we have to make our airspace free from terrorists then we have to make use of such machines. What do you believe comes first...? Is it safety or just privacy...?
Via: nytimes
