The Final Word
A Personal View
expressed by Diana Stancu
“...it is not only lives that we are trying to protect
from terrorists, but our democracy too...”
echnology itself cannot guarantee security, but law-abiding citizen may find himself in a situation where he
T
security without the support of technology is wouldn’t want to be watched or traced.
equally impossible. But, does the terrorist threat
justify the restriction of our rights to privacy? The level of acceptance of civil security measures will naturally
Privacy is generally associated with the protection vary significantly from one State to another, depending on its
of the integrity, autonomy and private life of the experience with terrorism. For that reason, in times of an
individual. Basically, it’s about people’s right to emergency or in its aftermath, individuals are much more accepting
choose how they want to live their lives, and which things they of the measures, constraints and restraints related to aviation
want to keep private. Privacy is considered to be a basic human security, even if these measures seem to infringe on civil freedoms,
right and is the essence of Article 12 of the Universal Declaration as demonstrated by the increased security measures in the United
of Human Rights. States following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
What makes the protection of privacy difficult is the fact that, Passenger data collection through the Passenger Name Record
nowadays, privacy is competing with other values in society, such (PNR); watch-lists and the No-fly List; the revealing screening
as our entitlement to security or the desire for convenience. Our technologies such as backscatter X-Ray and intrusive CCTV
privacy and freedom have been compromised by the technologies monitoring and surveillance are some examples of controversial
we have created – screening, surveillance, data collection, security measures. Should such deployments fail to respect our
communication – to protect us. Biometric identifiers (face, iris, individual freedoms, they risk being rejected by society, the result
fingerprints) are already incorporated into passports and ID cards being a degradation and weakening of the security they are designed
and are used for authenticating the claimed identity of those people to provide. Hence, a risk-based management approach to security
crossing borders, and in combating document and visa fraud. Yet in should also focus on people – as customers and passengers - and on
the future, albeit doubted by many, the use of RFID may be the the rule of ethics and morals rather than simply finding and
standard for identification purposes, whereby the device only works implementing the right security measures and technology. Human
if the chip is presented in tandem with the person one wants to science should not lag behind security solutions.
Secure, passenger-friendly borders:
authenticate. Until now, only members of certain night clubs have
agreed to be marked like cattle in this way, in order to spend less Homo hominis lupus. Man is a wolf to man. Should we really be
it’s a matter of knowing who’s who.
time paying for their drinks at the bar. So, do people comply with driven by what Plautus alleged centuries ago? Or, should we
these measures because they have no choice or because personal remember that we are living in a society based on fundamental
Border security is a balancing act. Too relaxed and you’re
convenience matters to them more than protecting their privacy? principles with guaranteed freedoms and rights and act
susceptible to the dangers of organised crime, terrorism and illegal
accordingly? It is true that today terrorists are innovative, well-
migration. Too tight and you can bring your airports to a standstill
Civil aviation security measures and the associated technologies trained and skilled at seeking out and exploiting the weaknesses in
and irritate your passengers.
deployed are designed to reassure and to guarantee safety. It is also our civil aviation security systems. But, in our pursuit of terrorists,
true that, on the one hand, individuals want their privacy when travelling should we override civil freedoms? I consider we should bear in
At SITA, we understand this dilemma, being 100% owned by
to be strictly preserved, yet on the other hand, they expect airplane mind that it is not only lives that we are trying to protect from
the air transport industry and uniquely placed between airlines,
boarding controls to be effective, rapid, and respectful. Should security terrorists, but our democracy too.
airports and governments. Our integrated border security solutions
measures become too easy-going, the risk of our suffering a terrorist
are directly developed in response to their needs, from innovative
attack would become very high; such an attack would be very costly Although there is some truth to the motto that security is the most biometric identification solutions to interactive advanced passenger
socially and economically, and devastating in terms of the loss of important of all freedoms, should this freedom be given precedence information systems that enable countries to know who is heading
human life and property. However, having excessive security could over all others? Is security the foremost freedom? Will civil aviation their way.
paralyse the air transport industry and deter people from flying, let security professionals be able to find the proper balance? Or, as an
alone compromise individual privacy. alternative, will freedom and privacy, the founding principles of a
Governments worldwide rely on SITA technology to help them
democratic regime, be reduced to simple and negotiable rights too?
protect their borders, airports depend on us to keep their
Many individuals are not concerned about technologies that
passengers moving, and airlines use our technology to help them
infringe upon their privacy because they feel they have nothing to Diana Stancu is based in Brussels, trading as Safe and Secure
comply with government regulations on aviation safety and security.
hide. Others fear that such exposure will result in a loss of privacy Skies, providing consulting services on aviation safety and
Whatever your role in the air transport industry, we have the
that is nigh on impossible to regain once it is gone. Even the most security matters as well as on EU-funded project management.
know-how to help you, too.
Visit www.sita.aero Specialists in air transport communications and IT solutions
48 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting www.asi-mag.com October 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational
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