Full body scanner at US airport sued
On May 2 (local time), the non-profit organization Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Rutherford Foundation provided the court with lawsuit files opposing the US Transportation Security Administration's use of full-body scanners at airports.
The two organizations believe that many passengers are afraid of going through full-body scanners at airports, so they choose to drive instead of flying. Meanwhile, driving on the road is more dangerous than flying, which ultimately increases traffic accidents.
The Washington Post reported that the purpose of the lawsuit is not to call for the cancellation of 789 full-body scanners currently in use at 156 US airports, but only to ask the US Transportation Security Administration to consider the high risk from people who are too afraid of full-body scanners to drive long distances.
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The lawsuit comes as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) thought it had settled the controversy over full-body scanners at airports. In 2010, Congress held hearings after people complained that the new scanners looked too much into their bodies. Three years ago, the older scanners were removed. The current scanners use stick figures to indicate where objects might be found on a passenger’s body.
Researcher Marc Sribner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute cited a 2007 study from Cornell University (USA) that proved that because passengers choose to drive instead of fly, traffic accidents increase by more than 100 cases per year. He said more than 1% of passengers want to be searched instead of going through scanners. He wants the US Transportation Security Administration to use metal detectors more selectively.
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