The game Airport Insecurity addresses the fine balance between security and citizen rights, while examining the situation in American airports. Only 45 days after the attack on the Twin Towers, the ”Patriot Act” was legislated in the United States, granting wide powers to the American government and the FBI with regard to surveillance and acquiring information about US citizens, all as part of the ”war against terror.” The Act was widely criticized for being a means to trample human rights, and its efficacy as a security means was questioned. Increasing the security inspection in airports and the restriction of movement are some of the sanctions currently taken in the US, and the game Airport Insecurity by Persuasive Games sets out to examine their effectiveness. The game is based on processes of inspection and surveillance employed by the US government. The player must stand in line for a security check in the airport, pass his belongings through an X-ray scanner, deal with other passengers, some impatient, get rid of objects that may be perceived as suspicious, and avoid ”forbidden” acts and being caught by the airport authorities. The effectiveness of airport security practices in the game is based on reports largely kept from the public, as they usually indicate that airport security fails in keeping arms from airplanes. The restriction of movement and the endless queuing are emphasized by virtue of the fact that the game is played on the cell phone intended to allow for freedom of movement and communication, and can also function as a highly efficient surveillance tool.
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