Lee was telling today about a new scanner at Heathrow which produces a nude image of people who are asked to walk threw it. I was both shocked and appalled that our society had let such a machine be allowed to be in use. Of course I understand the risk of terrorism and the need for additional security at airports but surely this is taking things to the extreme.

I do not wish for a random stranger to see me naked, it’s a breach of my privacy and can be easily be misused. The registry http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/08/heathrow_scanner_pilot/ makes a good point about the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Would parents really want a stranger looking at an image of their children naked? History has taught us already that no amount of security checks could guarantee that the person using the x-ray machine is to be trusted.

And why should frequent flyers be subject to regular doses of x-rays which claim to be harmless but we have no proof of that other than the word of the manufactures of the machine. Interesting to know, the manufacture is an American company and I have seen first hand the lack of control in the US market on false claims about products.

For those interested, here is a picture of what the machine will show http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3071573/

Maybe it would easier and cheaper for the government to order everyone flying to just come to airport naked!

I really hope the day never comes when they enforce these machines at airports because there is no way anyone is going to get me to walk through one ever. I would rather never fly again.

PS – guys you might be interested to know, they can see the size of your willy using these machines, maybe that would make a little less eager to support it