Question #137 (January 2010): On Christmas Day in 2009, a terrorist attempted to blow up an airliner as it landed in Detroit. Liquid explosives has been smuggled onto the plane in a syringe that had not been detected as the man passed through security in Amsterdam. Calls have gone out for increased use of millimeter wave scan technology to do full-body scans of passengers, which allow screeners to "see" what's underneath the passenger's clothing. Privacy advocates, however, decry the increased use of routine scans as unnecessary invasions of personal privacy. What do you think?
All passengers should be subjected to the full-body scan. We cannot be too safe. The full-body scan should be used when screeners have questions about an individual passenger. Full-body scanners are an invasion of privacy and could be dangerous — they should not be used on anyone. Full-body scanners are just security theater — they look impressive but will not keep anyone safe, and are a waste of time and money.
If your opinion is not reflected in the above list of responses, or if you just want to discuss the topic generally, feel free to post a message to a Message Board. Results of previous surveys can be found on the Results Page.
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