As amazing as it is frightening, especially where personal privacy is concerned (not to mention false imprisonment)… (Gizmodo) “Within the next year or two, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will instantly know everything about your body, clothes, and luggage with a new laser-based molecular scanner fired from 164 feet (50 meters) away. From traces of drugs or gun powder on your clothes to what you had for breakfast to the adrenaline level in your body—agents will be able to get any information they want without even touching you. And without you knowing it.”
“The machine is ten million times faster—and one million times more sensitive—than any currently available system. That means that it can be used systematically on everyone passing through airport security, not just suspect or randomly sampled people.”
“.. Genia Photonics, says that its laser scanner technology is able to ‘penetrate clothing and many other organic materials and offers spectroscopic information, especially for materials that impact safety such as explosives and pharmacological substances.’ ”
“This compact and robust laser has the ability to rapidly sweep wavelengths in any pattern and sequence. So not only can they scan everyone. They would be able to do it everywhere: the subway, a traffic light, sports events… everywhere.”
“The small, inconspicuous machine is attached to a computer running a program that will show the information in real time, from trace amounts of cocaine on your dollar bills to gunpowder residue on your shoes.”
“There has so far been no discussion about the personal rights and privacy issues involved. Which “molecular tags” will they be scanning for? Who determines them? What are the threshold levels of this scanning? If you unknowingly stepped on the butt of someone’s joint and are carrying a sugar-sized grain of cannabis like that unfortunate traveler currently in jail in Dubai, will you be arrested?”
“And, since it’s extremely portable, will this technology extend beyone the airport or border crossings and into police cars, with officers looking for people on the street with increased levels of adrenaline in their system to detain in order to prevent potential violent outbursts? And will your car be scanned at stoplights for any trace amounts of suspicious substances? Would all this information be recorded anywhere?”
Full Story: Hidden Government Scanners Will Instantly Know Everything About You From 164 Feet Away (Gizmodo)
(UK DailyMail) “Keith Brown, a council youth development officer, was travelling through the United Arab Emirates on his way back to England when he was stopped as he walked through Dubai’s main airport. A search by customs officials uncovered a speck of cannabis weighing just 0.003g – so small it would be invisible to the naked eye and weighing less than a grain of sugar – on the tread of one of his shoes.”
“One man has even been jailed for possession of three poppy seeds left over from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow Airport. Painkiller codeine is also banned. If suspicious of a traveller, customs officials can use high-tech equipment to uncover even the slightest trace of drugs. Mr Brown was detained and arrested in September last year and has been held in a cell with three other men in the city prison ever since.”
“A 25-year-old Briton who was found with a similar speck in one pocket as he arrived on holiday has been awaiting sentence since November. Meanwhile a Big Brother TV executive has so far been held without charge for five days after being arrested for possessing the health supplement melatonin. The authorities claim to have discovered 0.01g of hashish in his luggage.”
“Last night campaign group Fair Trials International advised visitors to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to ‘take extreme caution‘. Chief Executive Catherine Wolthuizen said: “We have seen a steep increase in such cases over the last 18 months. ‘Customs authorities are using highly sensitive new equipment to conduct extremely thorough searches on travellers and if they find any amount – no matter how minute – it will be enough to attract a mandatory four-year prison sentence.‘
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