Dictionary definition of “security theater”

security theater

n. highly visible but ineffective anti-terrorism or other protection and precaution measures. Subjects: English, Police, Politics

Editorial Note: A security theater is also a geopolitical area of military operations (a theater of operations) or a local area, such as in a company or home, under protection and surveillance. This term was popularized by, if not coined by, Bruce Schneier.

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Citations: 2003 Tyler Hamilton Toronto Star (Can.) (Sept. 1) “Security-as-theatre intrusive, ineffective;Smoke and mirrors security fails” p. D4: Security expert Bruce Schneier likes to call it “security theatre.” “Elected government officials are concerned about re-election and need to be seen by the public as doing something to improve security.” 2004 Spy Blog (U.K.) (Dec. 8) “Hammersmith Bus Station metal detector trial—more ineffective ‘security theatre’?”: Refusal to go through the detector seems to trigger a “you must have something to hide” response, tempered by the usual “ethnic” and “yoof” issues, which leads to a “normal stop and search” by the attendant Police Officers (a rare sight, normally). Yesterday, there were reports of false postives from mobile phones. Is this simply more security theatre ? 2004 Seth David Schoen Vitanuova (Dec. 16) “In the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo”: The secrecy culture cultivated by TSA demands an extensive deference which (as Barlow’s attorney pointed out) is often supposedly justified by saying “September 11, September 11, September 11.” But in fact many aspects of aviation security practice are still stupid and pointless, or, to be more polite and precise, they are security theater.

Posted 6 Jan 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend