Assignment

Page Requirement:

No requirement for length - however, ensure you answer all parts of the question and that you write in complete sentences. Additionally, make sure you proofread for grammar and spelling. Use APA formatting for this assignment.

Details:

In early March 2013, a CNN reporter wrote and published an article entitled "TSA Removes Body Scanners Criticized as Being Too Revealing." This article (included below) outlined the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to backscatter X-ray machines from airport security checkpoints for a number of reasons but mostly because they were too revealing of the general public.

For this assignment, you will take the position of either an advocate or an opponent of this type of scanning technology. Students should think critically about their position and develop logical and convincing arguments to substantiate their points. Students may wish to conduct additional research on this technology if they are not familiar with its implementation and subsequent removal.

Advocate:

1) Why is this type of technology necessary in the United States?
2) Where would the implementation of these technologies be acceptable?
3) Would the implementation / testing be permissible for the private sector?
4) How would the implementation of these technologies help safeguard life and property within critical infrastructure?
5) Can you think of any recent current events where the use of this technology would have been useful to the American public?

Opponent:

1) What are your concerns about the use of these technologies?
2) What rights could potentially be violated through the implementation of these technologies?
3) Would the implementation / testing be permissible for the private sector?
4) If technologies such as these are not utilized, what are other strategies/procedures should be implemented?
5) Other countries such as Israel and China are undoubtedly working on similar technologies, why should the United States be different?

TSA removes body scanners criticized as too revealing By Mike M. Ahlers, CNN.com

The TSA had developed protocols to assure that screeners who saw imagery of passengers never saw the passengers themselves.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Backscatter full-body scanners generated controversy
• Critics said images were too revealing, others cited potential health concerns
• TSA says it has met June 1 deadline to remove machines from airports
• Airport full-body screening will use different technology

Washington (CNN) -- The harshest critics labeled them "virtual strip searches." Airport passenger screening that produced particularly realistic full-body images using backscatter technology.

Others also expressed health concerns about low doses of radiation from the X-rays underpinning those scans.

Well, it's all over now as the Transportation Security Administration says it has met a June 1 deadline to remove all 250 backscatter machines from U.S. airports.

Travelers will still go through other full-body scans that rely on a system that uses radio waves and produces less detailed body imaging. The millimeter wave machines raise fewer privacy and virtually no health concerns.

"I think from the privacy perspective, that (the elimination of backscatter machines) has to be considered a victory," said Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

TSA chief: Explosives are bigger threat

What the TSA does with your stuff

The TSA maintained that the backscatter machines, manufactured by Rapiscan Systems, were safe and effective.

The agency had developed protocols to assure that screeners who saw imagery of passengers never saw the passengers themselves.
But Congress voted to require all body scanners to have privacy-protecting software, and the TSA announced in February it was phasing out backscatter systems because they could not meet the new standard.

The last backscatter machines were removed about two weeks ago, a TSA spokesman said. All 250 units were removed at Rapiscan's expense, the agency said.

Currently, there are more than 700 body scanners at about 165 airports, all with Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) software, which display items on a generic body outline.

Rotenberg said he still has privacy concerns about millimeter wave machines, including what information is captured by the machine -- even if unseen by screeners -- and how long that information is retained.

"We'd like to see clearer rules about the collection of the images," Rotenberg said. "Are they deleted? Are they saved? Is some analysis being done and can they be linked to passengers?"

Most countries do not use body scanners, he said, preferring to use a combination of metal detection and technology that can identify explosives.

Backscatter machines could return one day if the company develops required software, the TSA has said.