In this paper we illustrate (a) the background and goals of the interdisciplinary research project SAFEST and (b) first insights from the socio-scientific part within the project. Technical systems are often established without considering explicitly ethical, legal, and social implications. This frequently leads to a lack of acceptance. This paper aims at compiling an analytical scheme that tries to demonstrate the relevance of the social context for the emergence of different modes of acceptance in reference to surveillance systems at airports. It is intended to guide the technical experts to deal with and reflect acceptance issues in the process of technical development.