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Debate Info

58
46
Yes - Let the TSA use AIT No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
Debate Score:104
Arguments:62
Total Votes:128
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes - Let the TSA use AIT (33)
 
 No - Don't let the TSA use AIT (25)

Debate Creator

Celina_N(4) pic



8E - Topic 3: Unlawful Searches and Seizures

Yes - Let the TSA use AIT

Side Score: 58
VS.

No - Don't let the TSA use AIT

Side Score: 46

Apparently, judging from the comments here, you are begging the question.

It is liable to be dismissed.

Therefore, dismissed it is.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
2 points

AITs stand for Advanced Imaging Technology; they scan your body before you enter the airport for anything that could pose as a threat to fellow passengers. But despite these safety precautions, many people who are even slightly influenced by the 4th amendment believe that their privacy is being unrightfully breached.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
2 points

AITs stand for Advanced Imaging Technology; they scan your body before you enter the airport for anything that could pose as a threat to fellow passengers. But despite these safety precautions, many people who are even slightly influenced by the 4th amendment believe that their privacy is being unrightfully breached.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
2 points

Body scanners that peer through clothes are deployed in airports across the country. Travelers who object are subject to "enhanced" pat-downs. There are so many dangerous items that can kill many lives fore example: A weapon resembling a Klingon bat'leth was discovered in a carry-on bag at San Juan and an 8 inch double edged knife was concealed and detected in a replica statue of the Eiffel tower in a carry on bag. This was a very clever strategy to hide a weapon and if it wasn't for the scanners, someone might have been killed.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Ira_A(6) Disputed
2 points

To point out, what does a fictional weapon have to do with this? It could be a prop.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
1 point

If you're asking does it violate the fourth amendment, no, if the search is legally done. Before you can determine if AIT is legal or not we must first determine what a legal search is in this context. If the use of AIT is considered a legal method of search (as it is), then by definition it is not an unlawful search.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
1 point

Introduction

The TSA should be able to search people with scanners at the airport without hindrance no matter on how the people being scanned feel about privacy violations as it is a direct threat to security. While many people think this is a violation of privacy, without these scanners, security would be much weaker and there would be a higher risk of weapon imports.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
1 point

TSA should be allowed to use imaging technology because without these controls any person could hijack a plane like it happened with the 9/11 and innocent lives could be killed. About 2,212 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across Northern America. Of those, around 83% were loaded ready to fire. To add on Terrorist groups such as Islamic state, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and Boko Haram were responsible of ⅔ of all such deaths, (2015-2016)

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Ira_A(6) Disputed
3 points

That was a good point, but that may be a violation of the 4th amendment as it goes against its very context. How will the TSA be sure that no photos of body parts and unwanted parts are released or shared with the public?

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
TulikaN(5) Disputed
1 point

Michael Aguila, the TSA security director says “TSA values the privacy of the passengers. So we have a process in place that ensures the officers who does the pat-downs never sees the image on the screen. And these images are never retained and as soon as the passenger is good the image is deleted.”The AIT can’t capture, or retain an image, everything is online.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Luka_V(8) Disputed
1 point

I see your point, in this case though the integrity of the TSA which is a government corporation is tested, there is a very small chance that anyone would do this as it would violate their own rules and contracts within the company aswell as sacrificing their reputation.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Celina_N(4) Disputed
2 points

These are government-demanded safety precautions that can definitely help keeping terrorists under the radar, but it clearly violates American citizens' privacy. To add on, AITs are made to detect metal and solid masses, but some are not capable of detecting "chemical smooth mass", or explosives. They can simply be packaged in a right size, strapped to the criminal's chest, and they can waltz through security without officials noticing.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
JacopoP(4) Disputed
0 points

I see your claim, but since AITs were introduced the smuggling of drugs reduced by a lot, more than 25%. Many AITs can also detect drugs and organic materials inside a passenger's body.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
1 point

The TSA should be permitted to use advanced imaging technology to peer under passenger's clothing because of dangerous items. We need people to be safe and we have to make sure people don’t get hurt. That’s why it’s important to check. Especially from some countries like Thailand, Mexico and Southern America. The statistics of what people bring to planes, for example : A knife was discovered in a traveler’s carry-on bag at Jacksonville . He was permitted to leave the checkpoint so he could place the knife in his car. The knife was discovered again upon his return taped to a fishing lure.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Celina_N(4) Disputed
1 point

Again, restating my previous argument, AITs are a safety precaution, but it still violates their privacy. Most AITs detect metals, but many of them still do not detect substances that are not solid.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
Luka_V(8) Disputed
2 points

This is actually a false claim, soft substances like clay c4 or illegal drugs are also detected by these machines and have been many times.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
1 point

TSA should be allowed to use imaging technology because it can detect dangerous items and drugs. Using AIT, the TSA officers are finding things like small packages of powder-based drugs hidden on the body. These drugs are so small, one packet was smaller than a thumb print. If it weren’t for the AIT than the TSA couldn’t have detected the items that were brought illegally . Some of the items that were caught by the AIT machines are: a pocket knife hidden on someone’s back, little packets of powder, a syringe full of liquid hidden in someone’s underwear, and other small items.“Our officers discover thousands upon thousands of sharp items in carry-on bags.”- says a TSA agent. Passengers are deceiving the normal security checks by bringing in weapons that are made up of non-metallic materials so they don’t alert the the metal detector. But now, thanks to the AIT many non-metal weapons are being detected. These finds demonstrate that imaging technology is very effective at detecting treacherous materials and can help TSA detect threats.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
1 point

http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/lessons-plans/current-events/airport-scanners-fourth-amendment/ - This site shows that many people have opposing opinions on wether Airport scanners should be allowed to be used without consent of the public to search for weapons, deadly devices, illegal substances or signs of sickness as they beleive it is a violation of their privacy.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/11/15/california.airport.security/index.html - An article by CNN shows how “despite objections” there is still a need for airport scanners as they are a major part of security and risk prevention, so if they were to be removed, the US would be in a vulnerable position.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/04/airport-scanners-here-to-stay - Many people are worried about their health when they get scanned as they beleive that there could be a risk of radiation however, officials say that compared to the radiation you receive on a daily basis, or even the cosmic radiation from your flight, it is a very small dose.

All in all, this shows that many people feel violated from these scanners, that is understandable but you still need to consider the amount of weapons and dangerous items being brought to america every day that are being stopped, In just 2015, over 2,100 firearms were found in carryon baggage in 263 different airports, this averages at about 7 firearms found a day in addition to all the other dangerous items.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
YASSINGHALEB(3) Disputed
3 points

While you do make a fair argument Mr. Vukovic, the 4th amendment does say unrightful search and seizure, and the line should be drawn hen people view a person nude, or touch parts of their body they wish shouldn't be touched.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
JacopoP(4) Disputed
2 points

I see your opinion, but if these precautions wouldn't be taken in the airports than thousands of more guns and drugs would be introduced in the US. 2,212 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across Northern America, That is an average of 6 firearms per day. Of those, around 83% were loaded ready to fire. Firearms were intercepted at a total of 224 airports; 19 more airports than last year.

There was a 22% increase in firearm discoveries from last year’s total of 1,813.

This could cause the US be an unsafe place to live.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
TulikaN(5) Disputed
2 points

Think again

Are the TSA's searches and seizures really considered rightful if it can protect lives and find dangerous items that could stop terrorist attacks

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Celina_N(4) Disputed
1 point

http://gleaner.rutgers.edu/index.html?p=1680.html

This website clearly states all of the faults in AITs; the elevated cost and so-called "safety" is questioned about the risks that come with it.

The alternatives to AITs contain some pros, but they still have many, many cons.

http://travel.usnews.com/features/The-Pros-and-Cons-of-TSA-PreCheck/

This site shows the TSA's AIT alternative, PreCheck, and both the pros and cons of it. One of the cons states that this alternative costs money, indirectly showing how Americans are "forced" to go through AITs unless they want to pay the TSA unnecessary money.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/01/politics/tsa-failed-undercover-airport-screening- tests/

CNN has made some shocking discoveries; another alternative to AITs are pat-downs, as stated beforehand. According to former TSA official Chad Wolf, TSA personnel failed 95% of airport security tests. People undercover from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General posed as passengers and attempted to pass through airport security checkpoints with mock explosives and weapons. A government official with knowledge of the results say that TSA failed 67 out of 70 tests. The testers patted down the people undercover, missing the hidden explosives. When it came to the screener (device used for detecting anything that could prove as a potential threat to passengers), even that missed the explosive, showing that either some airport security personnel cannot do their job properly, or the screeners did not work as they were supposed to.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
1 point

Concluding statement:

In conclusion, Without people doing pat downs or scanning, illegal items are more likely to enter the country. Therefore increasing the risk of much more attacks.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
3 points

AITs stand for Advanced Imaging Technology; they scan your body before you enter the airport for anything that could pose as a threat to fellow passengers. But despite these safety precautions, many people who are even slightly influenced by the 4th amendment believe that their privacy is being unrightfully breached.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
3 points

When people are screened, most of the time, they are not aware and are not informed. This instance automatically violates their right to privacy and the 4th amendment. This is very often overlooked by many companies and government organizations. They do not notice these small issues whenever they need to perform their certain procedures.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
Luka_V(8) Disputed
2 points

I understand your claim but first consider this, how are people not aware of walking into a scanning pod, in airports that have these, on the side of the scanner it has instructions of what it does and shows that they will be screened. People are also told that they will be passing through these scanners and told what they do as an extra precaution. For people who dont wish to be scanned, they get pat-downs.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Ira_A(6) Clarified
3 points

To clarify my claim, some airports have covert and hidden cameras that most probably are infrared or x-ray cameras that can see through passenger's clothes.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Celina_N(4) Disputed
2 points

This is true, but even the pat-downs – in some ways – violate the 4th amendment. Many people are uncomfortable with the AITs taking "naked" photos of them, but even if they had a choice to do the pat-downs, other people are touching the citizens' bodies for safety. They may be of the same gender, but it still highly invades their privacy.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
TulikaN(5) Disputed
2 points

Ira from the opposing team said that they are not aware and are not informed about the AIT searches but actually the people are informed. The TSA website lists all the states and airports that have the AIT scanners, so the passengers are informed before hand.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
JacopoP(4) Disputed
1 point

I see your point but before you get screened, you have to sign a paper that tells you that you are about to get screened, to prevent the violation of privacy

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Celina_N(4) Disputed
2 points

But despite this, they do not exactly have a choice. The government is forcing them to sign the papers and walk through the AITs, and although, of course, it is for the citizens' own safety, but every week the number of Americans who are "okay" with the TSA's antics drop. In the week before the 23rd of November, 2010, "81% of Americans were fine with the X-ray machines, and this week only 64% will tolerate them."

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
YasminaA(6) Disputed
1 point

NO I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE, HOW DO YOU EXPECT SOMEONE TO WALK THROUGH A SCANNING POD.The COMPANY'S WHO MAKE THE SCANNERS ARE AWARE THEY WILL BE SEEING NUDE IMAGERY OF THE PEOPLE BEING SCANNED, SO THAT IS WHY THEY ALERT PEOPLE BEING SCANNED.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
YASSINGHALEB(3) Disputed
2 points

The 4th amendment states that there shall be no unlawful search and seizure, seeing people nude does breach their privacy, and if they are not wielding any firearms or anything illegal, the TSA's have just viewed them nude unrightfully, and if they can not back up a reason for why it was rightful, then it goes against the 4th amendment

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
2 points

Well, I think first I need to know what AIT is. With a quick search there are a few things it could mean but I'd rather know for sure what it is you are referring to. Going off your post so far though I would say that an Unlawful search and seizure is by it's very wording, unlawful. Therefore shouldn't be approved of.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
sylynn(626) Clarified
2 points

Do a quick search of "TSA AIT", it leads directly to advanced imaging technology

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Mint_tea(4641) Clarified
2 points

Ohhh that's better, I only did the AIT, should have figured to put TSA in front of it. Thank you.

Hmmm. Well would it really be unlawful search and seizure? It's a scan. It doesn't really bother me at all but then I'm not trying to do something stupid. I've been selected for scans before and the worst it's done is take 30 second of my time. So as long as there are no health risks, which according to the video it doesn't have any, I'm fine with it.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
2 points

AITs stand for Advanced Imaging Technology; they scan your body before you enter the airport for anything that could pose as a threat to fellow passengers. But despite these safety precautions, many people who are even slightly influenced by the 4th amendment believe that their privacy is being unrightfully breached.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
2 points

AITs stand for Advanced Imaging Technology; they scan your body before you enter the airport for anything that could pose as a threat to fellow passengers. But despite these safety precautions, many people who are even slightly influenced by the 4th amendment believe that their privacy is being unrightfully breached.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
2 points

A woman had stated "I had to go through one of the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) body scanners in any event. I hate those, and avoiding them is one of the reasons I applied for PreCheck in the first place (the alternative is an intrusive pat down). On the way back, I was dropped near my gate at Dallas Fort Worth, but was directed from the security line to a dedicated pre-check line, which turned out to be ten minutes’ walk away, and the line there was longer than the one I’d been directed from, so it turned out to be at least 15 minutes longer than going through the priority lane my status entitled me to at the original gate. This was not an “expedited” process" She was not in possession of anything such as drugs or firearms, and could have had a pat down rather than an AIT search, this breached her privacy as she was searched nude, and this could have been avoided if a simple pat down was utilized rather than an UNrightful search and seizure, which again, goes against the 4th amendment.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
TulikaN(5) Disputed
1 point

As i said earlier on the AIT searches and seizures are not considered unreasonable. They have the authority and they have previously found many treacherous items. Just because one person had to wait in long lines to get through the pre-check that doesn't mean the AIT searches are useless.

And again it doesn't go against the 4th amendment because the check is not considered unreasonable.

Think about this

The Fourth Amendment protects “the right of the people to be secure in their persons…against unreasonable searches.” Is the security at the airport considered unreasonable if it can protect many lives?

http://blog.tsa.gov/2016/01/tsa-2015-year-in-review.html - this website shows the weapons TSA has found.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
YasminaA(6) Disputed
1 point

Airport security is important because transport airplanes full of passengers are very attractive targets for bombs and for hijacking. Personally, People will lie and say this was "accidentally" put into my bag, Which ofcourse wasn't. That's why its very important to check.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
2 points

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/434821/im-so-fed-im-suing-tsa-over-their-ait-machines

Many airports are replacing the walk through detectors with the AIT's, which again, unrightfully can view people nude, and this again, breaches their privacy, the advanced image technology, which could easily be replaced, the line should be drawn here as this is an unrightfully search and seizure and goes against the fourth amendment.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
1 point

AITs basically take a photo of the passenger that is passing through it. This highly violates the 4th amendment, because the machine photographs the person without clothes on in order to see if there are any explosives or substances that could cause any harm to other citizens. The TSA, or Transportation Security Authority, claims that faces and private parts are blurred out and that the photos cannot be saved, but there have been several cases in which photos of naked people have been uploaded onto the internet because of a “test mode” that TSA personnel can switch the AIT machine to that automatically saves the passengers’ photos. There are also many cases in which AITs and airport pat-downs have taken this precaution too far: a breast cancer survivor was once forced to take off her prosthetics for the procedure to commence; a bladder cancer survivor was forced to open his urostomy bag which later spilled urine onto his leg; and a father took off his little boy’s shirt for the process to speed up.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
YasminaA(6) Disputed
1 point

I disagree. If these did not occur, people could hide weapons or dangerous devices and america’s or any countries security would drop.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
JacopoP(4) Disputed
1 point

I see your point, but TSA is a government cooperation, to add on during AITs the machines look through your body not under your clothes so it there is no chance that pictures of private parts can get taken during this process.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT
Celina_N(4) Disputed
1 point

The government today is different from the government that made the Bill of Rights and the the 27 amendments. Because of technology, they are advancing in ways that go beyond slightly violating the laws of their predecessors. Some of these are good ways that improve our everyday lives, but others just completely contradict the amendments. The TSA's Advanced Imaging Technology could be both, but the 4th amendment confirms that it is a violation to American citizens' privacy.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
1 point

All of the mentioned statements are true, but as a whole, the 4th amendment explains how the government should not be allowed to search someone’s body (without their permission). AITs are, of course, government-regulated safeguards, but they should not be permitted to use AITs to take “photos” of passenger’s body because of the privacy issues that come with.

Side: No - Don't let the TSA use AIT
TulikaN(5) Disputed
1 point

I see your point but I disagree in a few parts. As you said that they should not be permitted to use AITs as it is violating the 4th amendment, there is a passenger in San Diego that thinks the same and refuses to go through one of the AIT machines. This led to a conversation with one of the TSA member that he recorded in his cellphone.

TSA Agent: I’m going to be doing a standard pat down, using my hand going like this..

Tyner (person): Okay

TSA Agent: on you body. Also we are going to a groin check. That means i am going to place my hands on your hip, the other hand on your inner thigh. I’m going to do that 2 times in the front and 2 times in the back

Tynner: Alright

TSA Agent: And if you’d like a private screening, we could also make that available.

Tyner: We could do that out here, but if you touch my junk, i’ll get you arrested.

TSA Agent: Actually we are going to have a supervisor come in here because of your statement.

Tyner: Okay

Supervisor: You have a couple of choices in here. Someone is going to pat you down and if you are not comfortable with this than you don’t have to fly today.

Tynner: I don’t understand what sexual assault has to do with my decision of flying.

Supervisor: This is not a sexual assault

Tyner: It is because you are not the government.

Supervisor: this is considered an administrative search and we are authorized to do it. You have submitted yourself to doing it by coming through the checkpoint.” (It’s not my work primary source).

Clearly from this information, you can see that people who come through the checkpoints are allowing themselves to be searched even if they do not like it. If a person is not comfortable then he can choose by not coming to that specific airport that has the AIT scanners.

Side: Yes - Let the TSA use AIT