14 DAY TRIAL // Some of your worst nightmares have already come true, even if not exactly as you might have imagined. Being exposed with no clothes on in a public place surely doesn't sound very appealing to anyone, except for some people who we're not going to talk about now. Yet, a number of devices already installed in some of the world's largest airports do reveal your body exactly as it is under the covering dressing layers, down to the tiniest drop of sweat.
As the traveler passes in front of the scanning device, which works by means of radio waves, the associated display (only viewed by airport security professionals) instantly reveals the bare-skin anatomy of the respective person. This process was developed with the sole aim of detecting dangerous devices or weapons concealed by terrorists, such as guns, explosives, or ceramic knives. If this makes you feel any better, the face blurring technology is incorporated in the design.
However, since it did not make too many people feel any better, the device raised serious privacy concerns from the targeted subjects, and attracted strong criticism. In October, Germany labeled the technology as "nonsense," and the strong reaction determined the European Union officials to reconsider using the device in its current design. This is not to say that this type of scanners will cease to be used in the future, though.
One such machine is installed in the Schiphol airport, in the Dutch capital city of Amsterdam, with other similar ones located in Los Angeles or New York airports. So, if your itineraries involve getting there, you should know what to expect. Just so you know, wearing extra amounts of clothes won't help either. Nonetheless, plans and concepts are discussed that will involve not exposing persons to the full, while still keeping the detection features of dangerous items, according to a Germany Interior Ministry spokesman.