Tripping The Light Ironic

Today's Washington Post:

PARIS — Imagine stepping aboard Europe's anti-terrorist plane of the future.

At the door, a hand-held electronic nose reputedly 30 times more sensitive than a dog's snout sniffs passengers for dangerous chemicals and vapors.

After takeoff, computers monitoring cabin conversations pick up suspicious words in Seat 9B, fingernail-size video cameras detect nervous facial tics on the passenger in 21F, and a hidden microphone records questionable noises from the passenger in the rear toilet. Buzzers or flashing lights on a computer screen warn the crew and pilot of potential trouble in each spot.

If a hijacker manages to bypass the fingerprint-activated locks on the cockpit door and grabs the controls, an internal computer takes over and diverts the plane from high-rise buildings, a nuclear plant or any other pre-programmed no-fly zone.

The SAFEE project — Security of Aircraft in the Future European Environment — is the first coordinated international effort to create an airplane system capable of thwarting hijackings and terrorist attacks. It is under development in classified laboratories in 11 European countries and Israel. Much of the technology is in advanced stages of development, though systems for accurately analyzing facial expressions remain problematic.

Anyone sense the irony here? The same Europe that pitched hysterical fits over sharing passenger data with the US over privacy concerns is behind this particular bit of police state big brotherism. The article takes note of that and quotes some European officials who are already mustering opposition to the planned full time, all inclusive surveillance. But there is one small quote in the article that should terrify everyone, because this is what proponents are banking on:

"The trade-off between technology and human rights is a tricky and tough area," Gaultier agreed. "When there's a crisis, everyone will accept it. Six months after the crisis, everyone will forget. You always have to be careful how you deal with passenger rights."

One of the People quoted in the article says there is no 100% foolproof system. But there is one that is cheaper, easier and ultimately less intrusive or subject to potential abuse by the government. Everyone gets to wear a set of these when the get on the plane:

There just aren't that many Houdinis in the world.