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.