Invasive security turns off visitors

However, on my recent trip to Bangkok last week, I was subjected to a full-body scan at the departure area at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Again, in the name of security screening, our personal privacy has taken a step backwards, and in an Asian airport, too. Is this necessary? Bangkok is the only place in Asia to have installed these full-body scanners. These procedures are highly controversial in the West. Why must an Asian country, well noted as a major and friendly tourist destination, implement it? This is all the more of concern as privacy safeguards at Suvarnabhumi were not observed in the scanning process, in which scanned images were openly displayed to the public.

I do hope the Airports Authority of Thailand will abandon these scanners or at least shelve them until better technology or procedures are available, or when they are more universally accepted. If not, I will stop my visits to the Land of Smiles.

Terrence Shan

Hong Kong