Earlier this week the US announced a ban on carrying any electronic device other than a cell phone as carry-on luggage while flying from 8 Middle Eastern countries. Surprisingly enough the UK followed suit 12 hours later. The UK announcement happened just before I met Freia for lunch on the 21st which is her birthday.
Freia who is quickly becoming the primary source for the subject of my blogs, during our discussion on the usefulness and impact of these security measures, mentioned "Security Theater". I hadn't come across the term earlier and she suggested my next blog could be about that. And for someone starved for blog topics, that was a great suggestion. Thanks Freia. And Happy Birthday.
"Security theater is the practice of investing in countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually achieve it."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater
I found several interesting videos on Security Theater. Here are my 2 favorite ones. Makes the point and makes you smile.
Adam Ruins Everything - Why the TSA Doesn't Stop Terrorist Attacks
Security Theater - A TSA Opera
An extremely interesting and insightful article written in November 2008 for "The Atlantic" by Jeffrey Goldberg, most of which is relevant even today.
The Things He Carried - JEFFREY GOLDBERG
Airport security in America is a sham—“security theater” designed to make travelers feel better and catch stupid terrorists. Smart ones can get through security with fake boarding passes and all manner of prohibited items—as our correspondent did with ease.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/11/the-things-he-carried/307057/
And if you are intrigued by the subject, then what better way to know more than by listening to the subject matter expert.
This week I flew from La Guardia to Chicago to Denver and back to La Guardia. And paid special attention to the Security and the Theater aspect of it. The common feature in all of the airports was the long security lines. And the myriad things each person had to go through to pass through security. I'm convinced for now at least, we would not be less safe, if all of the theater was dropped and replaced with a less elaborate but more meaningful security system.
However there are no easy solutions as perception is greater than reality and all of us would feel way less safe, if the Security Theater did not take place. Feel Safe. be Safe. And have a Safe Flight.
Freia who is quickly becoming the primary source for the subject of my blogs, during our discussion on the usefulness and impact of these security measures, mentioned "Security Theater". I hadn't come across the term earlier and she suggested my next blog could be about that. And for someone starved for blog topics, that was a great suggestion. Thanks Freia. And Happy Birthday.
"Security theater is the practice of investing in countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually achieve it."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater
I found several interesting videos on Security Theater. Here are my 2 favorite ones. Makes the point and makes you smile.
Adam Ruins Everything - Why the TSA Doesn't Stop Terrorist Attacks
Security Theater - A TSA Opera
An extremely interesting and insightful article written in November 2008 for "The Atlantic" by Jeffrey Goldberg, most of which is relevant even today.
The Things He Carried - JEFFREY GOLDBERG
Airport security in America is a sham—“security theater” designed to make travelers feel better and catch stupid terrorists. Smart ones can get through security with fake boarding passes and all manner of prohibited items—as our correspondent did with ease.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/11/the-things-he-carried/307057/
And if you are intrigued by the subject, then what better way to know more than by listening to the subject matter expert.
This week I flew from La Guardia to Chicago to Denver and back to La Guardia. And paid special attention to the Security and the Theater aspect of it. The common feature in all of the airports was the long security lines. And the myriad things each person had to go through to pass through security. I'm convinced for now at least, we would not be less safe, if all of the theater was dropped and replaced with a less elaborate but more meaningful security system.
However there are no easy solutions as perception is greater than reality and all of us would feel way less safe, if the Security Theater did not take place. Feel Safe. be Safe. And have a Safe Flight.
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