Airport Scanner Issue- Opportunity for Global Collective Wisdom
Posted Nov 23 2010 8:08pm
Just returned to the US after 15 days abroad. Glad to be home. I am listening to a debate about airport security as I wait for the flight from Detroit home. These new naked X-ray scanners are quickly becoming the norm. Right now, 142 are deployed at US airports, and the TSA plans to install another 450 before the year’s end, reports the New York Post.
Here is what I saw as I went through various airport’s security.
First, the US could make the process easier and still be secure. For example, leaving Amsterdam you do not take your shoes off to go through security but if the alarm sounds when going through the scanner, you are asked to put your foot in another machine that scans your shoes. So sensible.
Second, if there is a full body scan that takes revealing pics I am always asked to go in it. The thing that impressed me as I was leaving Amsterdam was that rather than showing suggestive pics of my body, it had a generic stick figure of your frame with hot spots for anything that wasn’t flesh. It is the same machine, just the output is different. Returning home from abroad I was full body scanned 4 times. A bit much considering we do not know the health risks yet.
Third, when I arrived in Norway there was no security at all– because I arrived from Amsterdam and Europe has an agreement that the country you leave from will do the scanning. Sensible.
When I left Amsterdam I was thoroughly interrogated both by Customs and through the security scanning they did at my gate. You get all the way to the gate before you go through security, but when you do- it is extensive.
Canadian Customs going and coming were very strict. However, I didn’t have to remove my shoes. They eyeballed folks and decided by the type of shoes you were wearing on whether you had to remove them or not.
I believe we need to be safe and that security measures are needed, but I do not feel the US is making it as great an experience as it could be yet. I feel like conversations between airports from around the world could be insightful for developing a process that is both safe and sensible.
So what have you seen? What airports seem to be doing it right?
Here is what I saw as I went through various airport’s security.
First, the US could make the process easier and still be secure. For example, leaving Amsterdam you do not take your shoes off to go through security but if the alarm sounds when going through the scanner, you are asked to put your foot in another machine that scans your shoes. So sensible.
Second, if there is a full body scan that takes revealing pics I am always asked to go in it. The thing that impressed me as I was leaving Amsterdam was that rather than showing suggestive pics of my body, it had a generic stick figure of your frame with hot spots for anything that wasn’t flesh. It is the same machine, just the output is different. Returning home from abroad I was full body scanned 4 times. A bit much considering we do not know the health risks yet.
Third, when I arrived in Norway there was no security at all– because I arrived from Amsterdam and Europe has an agreement that the country you leave from will do the scanning. Sensible.
When I left Amsterdam I was thoroughly interrogated both by Customs and through the security scanning they did at my gate. You get all the way to the gate before you go through security, but when you do- it is extensive.
Canadian Customs going and coming were very strict. However, I didn’t have to remove my shoes. They eyeballed folks and decided by the type of shoes you were wearing on whether you had to remove them or not.
I believe we need to be safe and that security measures are needed, but I do not feel the US is making it as great an experience as it could be yet. I feel like conversations between airports from around the world could be insightful for developing a process that is both safe and sensible.
So what have you seen? What airports seem to be doing it right?