In the aftermath of UCL graduate Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed bomb plot on Christmas Day 2009 there has been much debate on the value and suitability of full body scanners in UK airports.
It has been argued that these scanners, which would display an image of a naked human person to the observer, are not only inappropriate due to their infringement upon our privacy and freedom but for their ineffectiveness.
Experts argue that the use of sniffer dogs would produce a higher success rate than the 50 - 60% efficacious scanners. Perhaps more potently, the scanning process will slow down the transition between check in and the oh so luxurious world of Duty Free...
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) claim that the scanners would breach privacy rules stated in the Human Rights Act. They lay emphasis upon the privacy of the disabled, elderly and pre-op transsexuals. Yes, this exposure will be embarassing for anyone with a self conscious nature but I cannot help feeling slightly offended by the EHRC's remarks. Does this mean that a disabled person should feel more self conscious than someone without a disability when revealing their naked body? Or in a society rife with ageism should it be presumed that the elderly would be too ashamed to go through this process?
I might just mention at this point that with the use of an algorithm the image of the naked body could be turned into an animated figure with anything suspect being highlighted on the image.
It was Bob Dylan who sang the words, 'but even the President of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked' and now I think, this is true.
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