Tightened Airport Security vs. Privacy

December 25, 2009. Passengers on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit had to calm down their pounding hearts since a Nigerian man tried to detonate an explosive device that was stitched into his underwear. The plane had to make an emergency landing in Detroit. Fortunately, no fatal casualties were reported.

This attempted terrorist attack renewed the need of tougher steps to crack down on terrorists to carry bombs on their bodies before boarding the plane without being detected.

One of the proposed measures is the use of full-body scanners at airports, which have already been implemented in many airports worldwide. However, such an excessive body search raises questions on a sensitive issue-- infringing on passengers¡¯ privacy.

Opponents point out that being seen under their clothing on the screen of a computer while being scanned for an X-ray picture to detect any potential weapons and bombs on the body is humiliating. This is of particular concern with passengers that have both cultural and religious sensitivities to such images being taken for the sake of security and safety.

Other concerns include the potential negative effects on health from exposure to radiation as well as the high cost in body scanning process under way for all passengers on an individual basis.

On the other hand, proponents emphasize that such security control measures are vital for preventing hijacking and enhancing security while flying. They also believe that full-body scan machines make terrorist attacks more difficult.

In addition, life is of greater importance than inconvenience caused from being scanned by the machines before boarding the plane, they say.

Furthermore, government authorities have a duty to protect their citizens¡¯ rights to be free of terrorist threats and one of the most effective ways to achieve this goal is through tightening airport security measures, they add.

Governments all over the world take extraordinary measures to heighten the security of airports in the aftermath of September 11 terrorist attacks. Now, keeping balance between security and privacy is becoming an imminent problem.