FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - NYT debate WBI versus privacy
View Single Post
Old Dec 30, 2009 | 7:35 pm
  #35  
pdx1M
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: UA 1K 3 Million/ex-many year GS, AA PLT/2 Mil, AS MVPG, HH Dia, Starwood Life Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,401
An interesting idea was put forth in another blog I read that one could have all the WBI systems feed through to a singe centralized viewing location - i.e. all airports images to one place. Put a computer based randomization between the image feed and the screen it goes to. So now you have a screener looking at an image from some airport that he can't id (next image will be from someplace else). You could also put all sorts of audits on such a location to address the "I don't trust them not to keep the image". You can encrypt the feeds to address the "tapped into" argument someone made above. Now I think virtually all of our current TSA procedures are pure theater and useless but I actually can see WBI being an effective and pragmatically non-invasive tool if set up correctly. I think valid issues are related to WBI safety - that should be answered clearly. However, I do think that in our general disrespect for the TSA (well earned) we are in danger of dismissing actually useful screening mechanisms. I don't know whether WBI is a right answer or not yet - however, the hysteria of extreme positions (they'll see me nude!) isn't going to lead to a thoughtful debate of the real utility of the tool.
pdx1M is offline