TSA looks into using more airport body scans

By Thomas Frank, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration plans to expand its use of screening machines that look under passengers' clothing for hidden weapons.

New York's Kennedy and Los Angeles International airports will get "backscatter" X-ray machines that the American Civil Liberties Union has called a "virtual strip search" for the vivid anatomical images they can create. Those airports and Phoenix Sky Harbor also will test a similar technology, using low-intensity millimeter waves, to scan passengers' bodies.

The machines are capable of showing passengers' bodily parts, but TSA says that, due to privacy concerns, they will not. All of the machines will use software that will blur images of passengers, so screeners will see weapons but only fuzzy images of people's bodies.

Their use will be voluntary for passengers who are pulled aside for extra screening beyond a metal detector.

"We will not roll out body imaging that does not have very high standards of privacy protection," TSA chief Kip Hawley said in an interview. "We'll use a variety of measures including software that may obscure some features."

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Phoenix | Transportation Security Administration | Schneier | X-ray machines
The expansion of the body-imaging program follows a test at Phoenix of the first X-ray machine at a U.S. airport checkpoint.

Since the TSA installed the machine in February, 79% of passengers have chosen to be scanned by the X-ray machine instead of being patted down by a screener, the agency said.

The Phoenix X-ray machine generates cartoon-like images of passengers, using a "privacy algorithm" that protects their privacy, according to TSA. Screeners can easily see metal objects.

The X-ray machines emit small amounts of radiation, according to federal research.

Barry Steinhardt, head of the ACLU's technology program, said privacy filters make body imagers "useless as a security device" because blurring can make it difficult for screeners to see weapons.

"There is a trade-off between revealing images, which might show contraband and weapons, and the 'blob machine,' which misses many things," Steinhardt said.

Bruce Schneier, an author and security technology expert in Minnesota, said the machines strike an "excellent" balance between privacy and security. "The issue we're worried about is whether they save the images," Schneier said.

The millimeter-wave machine, made by L-3 Communications, is used at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport and will start operation in Phoenix this month. The additional X-ray machines will start in coming months.

Although both machines will be used only on passengers getting secondary screening, millimeter-wave technology could in the future replace metal detectors because it can scan passengers in a few seconds. X-ray machine scans take about a minute.


A TSA agent scans airline passenger Kelsi Dunbar, using the new "backscatter" x-ray technology at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.

http://www.usatoday.com/n...tter_N.htm

Makes my car look that much more appealing.

They have all this security now and they haven't found shit. IT's fuckin' pointless.

Makes my car look that much more appealing.

They have all this security now and they haven't found shit. IT's fuckin' pointless.

Makes my car look that much more appealing.

They have all this security now and they haven't found shit. IT's fuckin' pointless.

maybe they should just require us to fly completely naked with no carry on at all..
oh wait then the TSA workers would not have jobs.

shanti0608 said:

I would hate to fly on an airplane if you were running things.

In addition to the obvious privacy issue, X-rays are after all radiation and it's not healthy to get exposed to them on a regular basis. I would definitely choose being searched instead.

retina said:

"Step right this way, sir"

In addition to the obvious privacy issue, X-rays are after all radiation and it's not healthy to get exposed to them on a regular basis. I would definitely choose being searched instead.

What are you doing up at this hour by the way?

retina said:

The type of radiation being used is about 1/10th the rate of a common xray.

retina said:

nothing illegal I promise!

jbchavez said:

That may be, I still don't think it's healthy for frequent flyers.

guitarslinger44 said:

I hate when people throw things out there and acts like it's the truth. You be very surpise how many people carry knives on them through the check point. A man in Hawaii is in jail now because he try going through the check point with a gun. Haven't found shit???? Do your home work first.

All of the machines will use software that will blur images of passengers, so screeners will see weapons but only fuzzy images of people's bodies.

Their use will be voluntary for passengers who are pulled aside for extra screening beyond a metal detector.

kpowers said:

Yeah, right. They waste their time taking away everyone's lighters and contact solution, meanwhile, you can get on the plane with pliers, knitting needles, and god knows what else. WE had a guy here in Atlanta WALK THRU SECURITY AND GET ONTO a plane last year before they realized HE DIDN'T HAVE A FUCKING TICKET!! Gee, that's a good use of taxpayer money. I feel really safe. The whole thing is supposed to make everyone feel safe, and in reality it's done the opposite, we're more scared than we ever were.