Airport Screeners could see X-rated X-rays 1407
AdamBomb writes "Think airport security is bad enough already? Well, the Department of Homeland Security is now planning on rolling out new machines that will allow screeners to actually see through clothing. Could be bad news, though privacy advocates are obviously fighting it."
Distracting (Score:2, Interesting)
Trialling it in London (Score:3, Interesting)
I usually avoid Heathrow like the plauge because of the long queues and usually use London City Airport [flylcy.com] as you can check in there 20 mins before take off. However, one day I had to fly from terminal 4 at Heathrow and while waiting in a 40 minute queue to get through security I noticed that they always seemed to pick the slim and reasonably attractive types for the body scan. So either that was coincidence or there was a few pervs there.
So this is not child pornography? (Score:4, Interesting)
Work for the government, get paid, and get to watch naked kids all day long...
There is relly no need to encrypt your files [slashdot.org], after all.
I'm just waiting to see how long it will be before someone start posting those pictures.
Re:well (Score:2, Interesting)
at San Francisco (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: same gender (Score:2, Interesting)
CA's Proposition 62: PASSED (Score:3, Interesting)
This is already the case in California [smartvoter.org]. Get charged or simply arrested for a felony, get your DNA added to the dbase. Done deal. Doesn't matter if you're guilty or not. An arrest is all it takes.
W
Re:Hardly X-Rated. Maybe R-Rated... (Score:3, Interesting)
No, it just means it'll catch weapons that look like weapons. Considering all the metal and hard plastic junk people carry on board -- phones, laptops, not to mention attache cases and framed bags, it'd be an evening's work to make a weapon that breaks down into innocuous parts. See or read the original Day of the Jackal for instance.
And as TFA states, all you need is a fat person to hide stuff in the butt, under the breasts.
Anyway, since 9/11 no knives or even guns are going to be useful to a hijacker. Plenty of passengers will choose to attack the hijacker regardless of personal risk, given the alternative is no hope at all.
It's just security theater, as Bruce Schneier calls these stunts that fulfill the need to be seen to be doing something regardless of effectiveness.
Re:Who wants to see everything? (Score:3, Interesting)
Now I don't have a problem showing any of my private parts to doctors because:
1) I know who they are,
2)I know they are qualified
3)I can go to a different doctor if I choose to.
4)I trust that they are doing something to help me. And there is a big difference between that and the security guards at the airport, who probably hardly managed to finish highschool and are just overweight cops stuffed with doughnuts. Most of them creep my out already and I don't think they are doing something to help me. I would rather take my slim one in a million chances of being blown up rather then having to show myself naked to every security guard at every airport I fly through.
Re:Can I see you naked please? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Who wants to see everything? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:This is old (Score:2, Interesting)
If security were the goal, their behavior would be entirely different.
Think about it, we have the largest standing peacetime military in the world, yet we don't even guard our own border in err of _millions_ of people walking across it illegally and then living here illegally (although illegal citizens have more rites than a legal citizen who has or may have broken the law, but thats another story).
History shows that a society cannot be dominant in the world more than about 300-400 years. They expand and then collapse from their size, or the government goes into some kind of fascist or other ubercontrolled mode that simply cannot be sustained.
Sometimes you would have never guessed that we were a country that was founded by people that wanted to be free of persecution, government religion, and unfair taxes, and were willing to die for those freedoms.
Now we are such a femalecentric bunch of wimps that will do anything because we are so scared of the boogieman.
Re:Hardly X-Rated. Maybe R-Rated... (Score:0, Interesting)
I don't believe the made very many, but I do remember a friend in law enforcement (who happens to be a little unstable at times...he was this way before going to the academy and I think he joined up simply because it gave him a sense of power...other times, he's as normal as can be and truely wants to do good)...anyhow, this friend brags that he's working on getting a federal permit that would allow him to use one of these undercover (regardless of the fact he is a standard patrolman). I don't know if he ever got ahold of one of these, but if its that easy for a police officer to do so, imagine how terrible difficult it would for someone with pure malintention to do so...it wouldn't be.
I think thats all the poster was refering to...
Re:Hardly X-Rated. Maybe R-Rated... (Score:2, Interesting)
No, but in this instance they are right.
If you hit metal? No, it will probably just make a hole. Hit glass at 36k feet, 6 miles up where there isn't breathable athmosphere and everything has to be presurized? Hit glass and the glass will shatter and suck everything out of it.
There is a great show called seconds from disaster that talks about things like this. There was one where the wrong screw sizes were used in a window in the cockpit. The way the window was oriented, you'd think the wind coming directly at it would have held the window in regardless, but no, when the internal presure got the best of it, it imploded out due to the weakened screw holds -- ones that were only a milimeter too short, but still had ample grip for almost all other applications, the pilot was sucked out of the window and if the others had not been fastened, they would have too.
The greatest thing about this show is its a real life foresics show analyzing real crashes and otherwise from the point of view of actual experts in the field that did the FAA reports and all that. No fictionalization. Its all real.
If a group of people could almost be sucked out of a window from a screw giving way, imagine what would happen if someone busted a window out.
So, in this case, Hollywood is right -- I'm using the show as an example, but read up on air disasters and you will see the truth of it.
Past all of this, I just wanted to say You Sir Are A Fucking Moron, And Luckily Too Stupid To Be A Troll. Fuck Off.
Re:Hardly X-Rated. Maybe R-Rated... (Score:5, Interesting)
No it isn't. There are two problems, but this is not one of them:
First, it's a problem (from the airliners point of view) that people where afraid of flying after 11/9. To combat this, you need to do something that is visible, and that gives the appearance that something is being done. Notice that if the measures actually improve security or not is uninmportant, what matters for this problem is only that people feel safer, not that they are safer.
Most of the stuff we've seen after 11/9 fall in this category, fueled by forces that'd like to see more surveillance and broader police-powers generally, and latch onto this as a suitable excuse.
Then there's the problem of ensuring that flying is safe. Generally it already is pretty safe, but it's always a good thing to improve safety if it can be done at an acceptable cost. (not cost only in sense of money, but in sense of money, inconvenience, etc)
Dealing with "armed criminals on an airplane" is a tiny part of that problem. You may be rigth that having 20 other armed people on the (extremely rare) plane that gets problems with an "armed criminal" may help in that spesific case. But very likely it would hurt more than it helps. Because you get a new class of problems: People who wouldn't otherwise be armed, but which now are because it's allowed.
It happens *often* that some passenger drinks too much / had the wife leave him the day before / starts to argue because his seat isn't the one he'd wished for / looses his temper for some other reason. It's not particularily uncommon that such passengers must be restrained.
If a large part of the passengers are armed, what is today a bit of loud yelling followed by a pair of handcuffs for the rest of the fligth may easily turn into a gunfight. I consider it likely this would happen dozens of times before you experience the first case where all the guns in the plane actually *benefit* security.
Yes, it is called PARANOIA (Score:2, Interesting)
Oh man oh man... this is what your current government has taught to you people from the USA... you think everything is fixed by putting a bullet[rocket, bomb] in someone else arse.
That is why I do not like to go to USA, because everyone thinks they have the right to kick someones ass just because he pissed you off (remember the quote that goes "if you are not with us/me you are against me") and if you by any chance think that I am not "with you" or because I happen to be a "fuking Mexican" then you are going to shot me...
That is so bad, I really would like you to come to Mexico, to some cities outside Mexico city (yes... we have a problem there), so you can try the sensation of going out at the street at ANY time 24 hours a day, without the fear of being robed or raped or killed or whatever, just because you saw someone in the eyes, or just 'because'.
Do you know that sensation? it is certainly good, and THAT is the normal way man, IT IS NOT normal to have to walk on the street scared and thinking first about what will happen next and looking at everyone waiting for them to shoot/kick/rob you... it is just that, you feel it normal and natural because I think it has been that way before you were born... and that is sad.
So, how to deal with the problem? I will tell you how the CIVILIZED people/countries do it, and I return to our Mexico's city problem. In Mexico's city we have lots and LOTS of insecurity, we have assaults, bank robberies, people hijacking, etc. We could try to solve it the way you USsenians do it just arm everybody and let each other kick their asses, BUT, this is NOT the way.
The way to do it is to look at the ROOT of the problem, and try to solve it, what is our problem? Poverty, extreme and miserable poverty, and that is what the Mexico's City major has been trying to do. It is about trying to fix the root of the problem.
Now, for you
So, I told you about our problem (in Mexico City), but what about yours?, well as I am not from USA, I do not have complete understand of your problems, but what I can see is that you (I mean the country) have a really big problem with depression, fear, some poverty and paranoia.
Why do you think that some kid would just go into his classroom and kill everyone?, no, it is not JUST because he saw it in a game, it is because all the system surrounding him oppressed him in some ways, maybe his fathers could not give him enough time, maybe also their friends look him weird because he only played D&D and videogames, maybe he saw his president wanted to kill every fucking soul in the planet, and he saw your evening news where they only say BEWARE! BEWARE BEWARE !! WE COULD BE DEAD TOMORROW!!.
We've gotten far too used to the idea that the government is mommy and can protect us
Protect you from what? from yourselves? anyway, the government HAS to do it, that is why YOU [are supposed to] chose your government, if it is not that way, then you are getting screwed and the [other] thing that is bad is not that everyone should be armed but that there is something WRONG with your DEMOCRACY (DCMA, IP, anyone??).
Ok, I hope something of this can get into your head, but I am afraid you people from US are used now to
Re:Hardly X-Rated. Maybe R-Rated... (Score:3, Interesting)
I think you are really overlooking the obvious here. Contemporary terrorists are already prepared to kill even themselves while killing others to "make their statements." A vigilante is acting in defense... even if it might be offensive. The odds passengers being killed by a vigilante is way lower than being killed by a terrorist. Essentially, it's clear that terrorists intend to kill and are not bargaining with anyone. This makes it about a 100% chance that someone will be killed when terrorists attack... I'd say that's considerably less if it's a matter of a stray bullet launched by you imaginarily clumsy vigilante.
Re:Who wants to see everything? (Score:2, Interesting)
I completely agree. (Score:3, Interesting)
I think that we should demand the right to fly naked and get speeded up to the front of any security check point.
If the religious establishment objects, they can just hold their ankles to get inspected for 'security.'
A.G. Russell sells them (Score:3, Interesting)
Here's a quote from their site [agrussell.com]:
"Due to new federal regulations, it is a felony offense to carry the CIA Letter Opener into an airport.
After about five years, we have revived the CIA Letter Opener. Designed in the mid-1970's, it was based on the A. G. Russell(TM) all steel Sting 1A and has been one of our most popular items of all time. This is the world's toughest letter opener. Made of fiberglass reinforced nylon, it weighs less than one ounce, but with the reinforcing ridges and blood groove to stiffen the blade, it can literally be hammered through a board. The uses are limited only by your imagination; self-defense to tent stakes. Measures 6-1/2" and weighs only 0.8 oz. Made in the U. S. A."
Re:Civil Disobedience (Score:2, Interesting)
A TSA Administrator admitted publicly that they put certain names (in this case people that had banned items) in a "secret" database (ie. you don't know what information they're keeping or even if you are in it) for an indefinite period of time.
They even use "attitude towards screeners" as one of their criteria for fines and entry in the database. Nice!! Disagree!! We'll make your life miserable. Now, who else wants to disagree?
That will then be used against you in the future (more secondary screenings and who knows what else yet). You'll essentially be black-listed, you know -- unless you rat out your other "commie" friends.
You liked 50s McCarthy-era right? Because they're back!!
Re:Who wants to see everything? (Score:3, Interesting)
There is. It's called an interphone.
Right after 9/11, the prevailing policy for US airlines was to keep the cockpit door closed at all times. Shortly after, I noticed that pilots would come out of the flight deck (for necessities like using the lav), but when they did this:
A) Two flight attendants would be standing in front of the flight deck door
B) A galley trolley or similar would be placed perpendicular to the aisle, and
C) Another flight attendant would enter the flight deck until the pilot returned.
This was specifically on United, though Alaska was similar. Now, of course, it appears that flight deck security has become just as lax as it was pre-9/11.
Sure, it might be the best thing for the country to prevent the hijacking of a plane like that - but the country and any victims in question are far away and poorly defined in our minds. The little girl with a razor blade to her throat standing in a pool of her fathers blood is right outside the door
Except that's what's expected now. Pre-9/11, pilots were trained to do whatever the hijacker asks if hijacked . Now, just about every airline's policy is to keep the door closed, and land the plane ASAP.
Re:Yes, it is called PARANOIA (Score:4, Interesting)
I live where illegal smuggling causes car accident deaths of innocents every week. Where they live in migrant tent tracts and rape and force women and children to prostitute [iwu.edu]. And this is why, I carry a gun. I'm a gorgeous redhead with a great body.... I can so get kidnapped and disposed of very quickly. Do me a favor... Google crime in San Diego County. Read any of the local news rags... SignonSanDiego.com is pretty good. Most of the violent crime is committed by crankheads or Mexican Illegals whacked out on meth - the major cheap street drug in TJ).
All of that being said.... I go to Mexico about once a month. I drive my American Car with California plates, and I hang out with my American friends. I *love* my time in Mexico. I go down along Baja, and I have a great time... that was until the Police Chief of Rosarito (where we go) was murdered in cold blood in front of his house... over 100 bullet holes were found in him. I'm sorry, sir, but that's just not safe. I have a great time in Mexico, but does it mean that I am not afraid for my life? NO!!!! That's why I have 2 huge guys on either side of me constantly. Oh, and they are CONSTANTLY screwing over Americans in terms of money. Do yourself a favor, change your money in San Ysidro before you go over!!!! They will buttrape you for $$s to pesos.
I did get pulled over by Federales when I was driving home one midnight. I was scared to death, because they really love to throw Americans in Mexican jails for doing nothing wrong. But the officer was very sweet, and I tried my best to speak what very little spanish I know, and he had me follow him to the highway. He asked me - Do you have any drugs... any guns? Of course not!!!! Like I would say yes if I did.
So ya know, there are whole parts of this country for thousands of square miles that are really safe, and perfectly fine to walk around nude in the middle of the street and not have anyone attack you... you might get a laugh or even a ticket, but you won't get abducted, raped and killed. And it's those places, where the 2nd amendment is respected, embraced, and everyone knows old boy might be packing. That's my freedom, my right, and damnit, I WILL PROTECT MYSELF!