4 ms·

TSA Announces It Will Decide Who Goes Through the Body Scanner, Thank You

24 points by apo 11y ago

methodover 11y ago
This is such a shame. I wonder what the founding fathers would think of mandatory full-body scans. They seemed uncomfortable with blanket drag-net searches -- they did give us the fourth amendment after all. For me, it's an affront to the core principles of our republic. The founding fathers had access to just as invasive methods as we have today, and they opted to restrict the government from applying them to the public without direct court oversight. And I don't buy the argument that flights are somehow special. There is this opinion that they deserve more scrutiny than buses or trains or automobile travel. The truth is, of course, that flying is not significantly different from any other mode of transportation. There is no argument for the TSA that could not be applied to a bus, car, train, or any other form of transportation. I wonder if we're just a terrorist attack away from the TSA in Bart stations. Perhaps one day we'll have body scanners at bus stops, or ferry terminals. At what point, I wonder, does it begin to cause the courts Fourth-amendment concerns?
- mgamache 11y ago
  you are correct. Airports are just the testing ground, body scanners will be in use in many venues in the near future. I suspect that cost is the only barrier currently.
mgamache 11y ago
This is a good example of the erosion of Freedom that happens over time. The TSA introduces invasive body scanners with an 'opt-out' to placate the few who are really concerned about personal rights. Wait a couple of years and then through a hidden administrative change remove the opt-out. Now it will take a court challenge to reverse the TSA policy.
ColinWright 11y ago
Massive discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10779589 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10779589
ddp 11y ago
Before you just allow them to do this to you: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabrownlee/2015/12/24/tsa-body-scan-just-say-no-leading-expert-says/2/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabrownlee/2015/12/24/tsa-body...

24 points by apo 11y ago

This is such a shame. I wonder what the founding fathers would think of mandatory full-body scans. They seemed uncomfortable with blanket drag-net searches -- they did give us the fourth amendment after all. For me, it's an affront to the core principles of our republic. The founding fathers had access to just as invasive methods as we have today, and they opted to restrict the government from applying them to the public without direct court oversight. And I don't buy the argument that flights are somehow special. There is this opinion that they deserve more scrutiny than buses or trains or automobile travel. The truth is, of course, that flying is not significantly different from any other mode of transportation. There is no argument for the TSA that could not be applied to a bus, car, train, or any other form of transportation. I wonder if we're just a terrorist attack away from the TSA in Bart stations. Perhaps one day we'll have body scanners at bus stops, or ferry terminals. At what point, I wonder, does it begin to cause the courts Fourth-amendment concerns?

mgamache 11y ago
you are correct. Airports are just the testing ground, body scanners will be in use in many venues in the near future. I suspect that cost is the only barrier currently.

mgamache 11y ago

This is a good example of the erosion of Freedom that happens over time. The TSA introduces invasive body scanners with an 'opt-out' to placate the few who are really concerned about personal rights. Wait a couple of years and then through a hidden administrative change remove the opt-out. Now it will take a court challenge to reverse the TSA policy.

ColinWright 11y ago

Massive discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10779589 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10779589

ddp 11y ago

Before you just allow them to do this to you: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabrownlee/2015/12/24/tsa-body-scan-just-say-no-leading-expert-says/2/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabrownlee/2015/12/24/tsa-body...