More on screening

On one of the biggest travel days of the year:

Such figures don’t mollify critics. “Nobody should be forced to choose between naked scans and groping by strangers in order to keep our airports safe,” says Laura Murphy, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s legislative office in Washington, which is sifting through a torrent of complaints in an attempt to assess whether the new policy is a violation of the Fourth Amendment statute against unreasonable searches. Scientists have clashed over the health impacts of absorbing additional radiation, opponents argue that the bill for the machines - which cost more than $150,000 apiece - outweighs the benefits, and some experts say the extra layer of protection does little to close existing loopholes in aviation security. Still, others deride the screenings as little more than “security theater,” a performance designed to deter terrorists or make travelers feel safe that in fact provides few tangible benefits.