Technomaly » airport security

Airports Aren’t Laughing At Your Twitter Terrorism Jokes

Geoffrey Golden — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:11:12 +0000

It used to be that screaming “I’ve got a bomb” at the airport was the best way to get arrested. Now, thanks to the digital age, all you have to do is Twitter jokes about bombs. Everything’s so much easier now.

In Northern England this week, a frustrated man – delayed at the airport due to snow – was arrested for sending this tweet:

“Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!”

When police arrested the man, they interrogated him for 7 hours. Apparently, they didn’t think it was a funny line, even with the two exclamation points and the use of Strong Bad’s favorite expletive.

Still, in terms of ridiculous jokes being misconstrued as bomb threats, they do it best on the moon:

…where they tweet about smoking as they shoot the bird.

Source and Photo: Daily Mail

Additional Photo: The Beat

Do Airport Body Scanners Break Child Porn Laws?

Nick Upton — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:38:03 +0000

The Guardian says new airport body scanners could break child protection laws.

Privacy campaigners claim the images created by the machines are so graphic they amount to “virtual strip-searching” and have called for safeguards to protect the privacy of passengers involved.

Ministers now face having to exempt under 18s from the scans or face the delays of introducing new legislation to ensure airport security staff do not commit offences under child pornography laws.

One privacy expert said that the images of celebrities or children could be an “irresistible pull” to some employees. The expert also voiced concerns that safeguards against copying the images could be bypassed.

It’s not surprising that privacy advocates are concerned. A bright white naked blur of a celebrity could fetch top dollar from gossip sites.

Via the Guardian.

TSA: Please Step Into My Nude Room

Nick Upton — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:11:52 +0000

The so called “underwear bomber” nearly took down a plane on Christmas, and now the Transportation Security Administration is pushing for better security technology, namely the Millimeter Wave Passenger Imaging Technology Pilot — which amounts to X-ray scanners commonly seen in cartoons.

While the machines won’t show our green glowing bones, the TSA thinks it is essential to spotting people trying to smuggle things through the airport. Privacy advocates all the way up to the senate have some concerns, but the TSA says anyone with concerns can skip the machine in favor of olde timey metal detectors and patdowns.

According to the TSA press release about the machines, most passengers prefer the device to old, slower methods.

Many passengers prefer advanced imaging technology. In fact, over 98 percent of passengers who encounter this technology during TSA pilots prefer it over other screening options.

Additionally, passengers with joint replacements or other medical devices that would regularly alarm a metal detector often prefer this technology because it is quicker and less-invasive than a pat down.

Despite the assurances and the grainy, PG-13 images that the TSA claims will be obscured in strategic areas, some lawmakers have some qualms.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said, “I believe there’s technology out there that can identify bomb-type materials without necessarily, overly invading our privacy,” he told the Salt Lake Tribune. Chaffetz said he supports a measure that would keep the TSA from using the devices as a primary means of screening.

I say anything that would make the security line go quicker and give me a reason to wear my hilarious lead bling for the screeners is a good thing.