WWYW #27: Whole Body Imaging; Reprentative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Whole Body Image scanning at airports was already being instituted at several airports at the end of last year. But the attempted bombing of a Delta jet last Christmas Eve has thrust the issue back into the limelight, with proponents of greater security measures pointing to the Imaging as a stronger solution to ensure safe air travel. Fifty-two of these state-of-the-art machines are already scanning passengers at 23 U.S. airports. By the end of 2011, there will be 1,000 machines and two out of every three passengers will be asked to step into one.

But is this option the best way to go? A coalition of privacy and civil liberty groups certainly doesn't think so, believing that we are sacrificing too much with this technology. Some religious groups also believe that the technology is in violation with their beliefs. What are the alternatives to Whole Body Imaging? Why is the real impetus here?

Guests include:

Lillie Coney is Associate Director with the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) in Washington, DC. EPIC was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values.

Corey Saylor is legislative director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR's mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Our second segment takes you to the National Whistleblower Assembly, where Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) delivered a message from Congress.