Entry #5 The Demoralizing Effects of New Technologies

Gibson, Jano. “Airports to Trial Virtual Strip Searches.” The Age. Fairfax Media, 2 Oct. 2008. Web.

MDSB62 Media Portfolio Entry #4—Scientific looking & Journalism image & Image from other culture

By: Annie Duong 

The Demoralizing Effects of New Technologies 

Technology and other mediated devices have evolved over time. The purpose and use for these new technologies are unlimited. New technologies can be used for communication, transportation, security purposed, take pictures and videos, etc. The rapid growth of technology is affecting the way our culture functions. For instance, people have the ability to use technology for demoralizing purposes, such as hacking, blackmailing, and harassing an individual’s privacy. In 2007, Australian airports have invited travelers to take part in the ‘virtual strip searches’, which involves the travelers to go through a body x-ray scanner to see what lies under the clothes, revealing the traveler’s genitalia and other private concerns. Australian airports have made it a requirement to go through a body scan, otherwise, they would not be able to board the plane. This issue have caused great uproar among the citizens. Advanced technology, such as the x-ray, is an example of a technology that is being used to invade an individual’s privacy and the potential of causing health risks.

Privacy invasion is a common issue when it comes to technology because technologies have the ability to track and collect data by monitoring one’s actions. The x-ray scanner incident in Australian airports is invasive on a more personal and private level. The act of  going through a full body scan can be demoralizing and embarrassing for the traveler. This type of invasion of privacy is also known as ‘scientific looking’; the act of satisfying one’s pleasure through manipulating the use of science and technology on those you are powerless and vulnerable. Priscilla M. Regan, in Legislating Privacy: Technology, Social Values, and Public Policy, she said, “science and technology have progressed and, as Justice Brandeis anticipated, have given government and other organizations the capability to invade privacy in new and different ways” (2). Just like the Australian airport incident, the Australian government has the power to use such technology in a way that conflicts with an individual’s privacy. The invasion of one’s privacy is a public concern because technology is perceived to be moving faster than legal protections.

          Potential causes of health issues are also at risk when using x-ray scanners. Although the Melbourne airport Australia reassures the travelers that “body scanners at Australian international airports use non-ionising radio frequency energy in the millimeter-wave spectrum,” (“Body Scanners in Australia”), and that they do not pose any real health risks because of the low millimeter-wave spectrum that only reflects off the skin, there is still the risk of skin injuries. Although the experts of health say that “the amount of radiation is almost insignificant,” (“Experts Assess Health Risks of Airport Full-Body Scanners”), people of old age, pregnant, or are already at a health risk, that ‘insignificant’ amount of radiation is still concerning to the travelers.

New advanced technologies are innovative and useful, but at the same time it can become dehumanizing and dangerous. Concerns about the Australian airport body scanners are mainly about the invasion of an individual’s privacy and the possible health risks that come with it.

Works Cited

“Body Scanners in Australia.” Australian Government: Department of Infrastructure

          and Transport. n.d. PDF file.

“Experts Assess Health Risks of Airport Full-Body Scanners.” Medpage Today. n.p.,24

          Nov. 2010. Web.

Gibson, Jano. “Airports to Trial Virtual Strip Searches.” The Age. Fairfax Media, 2 Oct. 2008.

          Web.

Regan, Priscilla M. Legislating Privacy: Technology, Social Values, and Public Policy.

          Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 1995. Print.