Mark Salter on airport security

In the wake of the attempted airplane bombing on Christmas Day, Mark Salter has written an op-ed piece for The Globe and Mail to explain new airport security techniques.

Salter, who is editor of Politics at the Airport, argues, rather controversially (he admits), that a new piece of technology, the “back-scatter” x-ray (which draws up a naked image of each passenger) actually contributes to the enhancement of individual privacy.

Security analysts have sarcastically suggested that the only way to ensure aviation security is to fly naked. But the new technology gives the best possible security screening of passengers and several system tools to protect passengers’ privacy. It may be difficult to see how an X-ray that strips your clothes for a screening officer protects your privacy, but there are four crucial parts of the system that provide security and ensure that privacy invasion is minimal.

Read the entire article here.